Leo stops Martinez run, stays undefeated

Leo Santa Cruz stopped Kiko Martinez on Saturday for his first defence of the WBA featherweight title, which could put him in line for a super-fight in one of boxing’s strongest divisions. American Santa Cruz knocked Martinez down twice in the opening round before finishing him off at 2:09 of the fifth when referee Raul Caiz stepped in to halt the slugfest. The Anaheim fight came on the same day that Carl Frampton beat Scott Quigg in a split decision to become the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight champion in Manchester, England. Now that he has his first title defence in the deeply talented 126-pound division out of the way, Santa Cruz is aiming for a showdown with Northern Ireland’s Frampton in the not too distant future. “I want Frampton,” Santa Cruz said in the ring after his victory. “He said he wants to move up in weight so bring it on.” It didn’t hurt that Santa Cruz looked impressive Saturday, throwing 140 punches in the first round as Martinez was sent to the canvas for just the fourth and fifth time in his career. The first knockdown was a punch to the top and side of the head, and the second was a straight right hand set up by a left jab. In the final round, Santa Cruz trapped Martinez on the ropes and unloaded a barrage of lefts and rights against the helpless Spaniard in front of a crowd of 7,700. The fight was filled with plenty of toe-to-toe action in the centre of the ring as Martinez was able to survive the two knockdowns and come back strong in the second round. The 27-year-old Santa Cruz, who improved to 32-0-1, was disappointed he didn’t get the early knockout. He said he strayed from the game plan because he wanted to put on a good show, before getting back on track. “He was ready,” said three division world champ Santa Cruz of Martinez. “I thought he was hurt and wasn’t going to get up. I thought I was going to finish him but he is a fighter and came back strong. After we went toe-to-toe I started to box him more and did what my dad told me.” The 26-year-old Martinez, who lost to both Frampton and Quigg in the past, said he absorbed too many blows. “He broke my strategy. He was moving a lot and throwing a lot of punches,” said Martinez, a former super bantamweight champ. On the undercard, Mexican champion Julio Cesar Ceja needed just 51 seconds to win a rematch over Hugo Ruiz in a WBC super-bantamweight title fight. Ceja dropped Ruiz with a right to the jaw in the opening round. Ruiz got up by didn’t last much longer as the referee stopped the fight before many in the crowd had a chance to settle into their seats. Ruiz was alert but had to be taken from the ring in a stretcher after appearing to injure his leg in the knockdown. Frampton win helps McIlroy ‘beat’ RooneyCarl Frampton defeated Scott Quigg on a split points decision to become the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight champion on Saturday and guaranteed fellow Northern Irishman Rory McIlroy a night out at Wayne Rooney’s expense. Frampton triumphed after 12 rounds in front of a 20,000 sell-out Manchester crowd courtesy of 116-112 counts in his favour by two judges, with the other giving it to local fighter Quigg 115-113. The hotly-anticipated bout also led to a good-natured Twitter duel between golf star McIlroy and Manchester United striker Rooney. “Both top fighters mate but @scottquigg for me. How about the loser pays the bill next time your in Manchester?” challenged Rooney on Twitter on the eve of the fight. McIlroy retorted: “You’re a legend Wayne but it’s @RealCFrampton all the way!” And as soon as the victory was confirmed, the four-time major winner and former world number one golfer gleefully claimed his prize. “YESSSS!!!! Well done @RealCFrampton! Fought a smart fight. Get your wallet out @WayneRooney!!,” tweeted the 26-year-old. Frampton paid tribute to Quigg with whom he had fought a fierce war of words in the build-up to the fight—over the choice of dressing rooms. “That’s the end of all the disrespect—from my side anyway,” he told the BBC. “I’m proud to have beaten a very good fighter tonight. He was a worthy champion.” Both McIlroy and Rooney had plenty of time to watch the fight. McIlroy missed the cut at Honda Classic in Florida on Friday while Rooney is currently sidelined with a knee injury.