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Home » Frank Martin wins, Rashidi Ellis improves to 24-0 on Showtime

Frank Martin wins, Rashidi Ellis improves to 24-0 on Showtime

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In the telecast opener of Vargas vs Magsayo, unbeaten rising star Frank Martin defeated Jackson Marinez.

Pushing his record to 16-0 with 12 KOs, Martin showed the full complement of skills that have made him one of the most talked-about up-and-comers in the 135-pound division.

He delivered a methodical destruction on his way to stopping Jackson Mariñez (19-3, 7 KOs) in the 10th and final round.

After a tentative first two rounds, the Derrick James-trained Martin began to use his superior foot speed to put himself into position to land his lethal left hand on the head and body.

Frank Martin

“I was ready to go the distance whether I got the knockout or not,” said Martin. “Me and Derrick James worked hard in the gym.

“It was just a matter of me being patient and not being anxious.”

Mariñez used his size advantage over the early rounds to keep Martin honest, having success landing counter rights over the top of Martin’s guard.

“I felt great,” said Mariñez. “I was very comfortable inside the ring. It would absolutely have been a different result had I had more than eight days to prepare.”

Mariñez, who stepped in as a late replacement to face Martin, could not put together effective combinations and too often relied on single-punch counters.

Martin slowly broke Mariñez down with a consistent body attack, landing 53 shots there throughout the action.

He also held advantages in both punches thrown (505-411) and punches landed (160-106).

“I’m just an accurate puncher,” said Martin. “We had to really stay on the outside of the hook. I was doubling the two and trying to come inside with the hook.”

After a close first half of the fight, Martin began to pull away in the later rounds and finally broke through. He hurt Mariñez late in round nine.

Vicious

He connected on a series of vicious left hands that staggered Mariñez before a follow-up attack left Mariñez on the mat in the neutral corner.

“The knockdown in the ninth changed the tone of the fight,” said Mariñez. “Maybe I could have been more careful.

“These things happen in boxing, and you just gotta be ready to roll with the punches. He had power, and so did I.”

Mariñez could get to his feet and survive the round, but Martin wasted little time restarting his offense in round 10. He pushed the pace from the outset and rained blows onto Mariñez, who was pinned against the ropes.

Mariñez hit the canvas again, and referee Rafael Ramos jumped in to end the fight 30 seconds into the round.

“I was on him once I had him hurt. I was hungry, he was in deep waters, so I had to get him out of there,” said Martin.

“I’m right there with those top guys at lightweight. Sit me at the table with them whenever I’m ready.

“I’m going to sit down with my team and hopefully get something big. At the end of the day, we’ve won them all.”

Rashidi Ellis vs Jose Marrufo
Ryan Hafey

Rashidi Ellis

Before the telecast, rising star Rashidi Ellis (24-0, 15 KOs) scored two knockdowns on his way to a first-round stoppage of late replacement Jose Marrufo (13-11-2, 1 KO).

Ellis dropped Marrufo twice in the first two minutes of the frame before a follow-up attack forced referee Ellis Johnson to halt the action 2:17 into the round.

Additional streaming saw San Antonio-native Ramon Cardenas (21-1, 10 KOs) edging a unanimous decision over Venezuela’s Michell Banquez (20-2, 14 KOs) after ten rounds of bantamweight action.

It was a close fight contested mainly on the inside. In the end, Cardenas was given the nod by the scores of 97-93 twice and 96-94.

TGB Promotions promoted the event. The Martin vs. Mariñez bout in association with Man Down Promotions.

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