By Everest Castaneda: WBO super featherweight champion Orlando “Siri” Salido’s (42-12-2, 29 KOs) first title defense will be held in San Juan, Puerto Rico on April 11 against tough, former WBO super featherweight champion Roman “Rocky” Martinez (28-2-2, 17 KOs). Although Salido had “two offers on the table” since being elevated to full WBO champion, his manager, Sean Gibbons, in an interview by ESPN.com, decided that Martinez “…will be there mixing it up with Orlando. They can both crack.”
Since losing his title to former WBO super featherweight champion, Miguel Angel “Mikey” Garcia (34-0, 24 KOs), Martinez has had one win by knockout over journeyman Herbert “Sensational” Quartey (12-11, 9 KOs). Although Quartey was riding a 2 fight win streak at the time, we’ve seen him get completely dismantled in his last fight by up-and-coming prospect Lamont Roach Jr. (6-0, 3 KOs); thereby, making Martinez’s most recent victory rather lackluster.
Among the offers was a fight in Russia against Andrey Klimov (19-1, 9 KOs). Salido’s team did not like the fight citing, “…style-wise is a horrible fight.” Klimov has a habit of hopping around the ring and wasting more energy on movement than punching. Often, Klimov would launch himself away from punches on his back-foot rather than utilize his head movement. Although Klimov is coming off a three fight win streak, he lost his biggest fight against Terrance “Sweet T” Crawford, and the performance he put on was rather uninspiring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JuedWLxnINQ
The more notable offer was from Diego Magdaleno (27-1, 11 KOs), former WBO super featherweight title contender. Salido’s team wants a fighter who will go toe-to-toe and fears they’ll be “chasing him down all night.” Magdaleno is the most elusive, and arguably talented, of the three having, in my opinion, beaten Martinez. With fast hands and fast movement, Magdaleno often weaves in and out of punching range throwing strikes from all angles, most favorably moving in with the overhand left. To complement his speed, Magdaleno’s work-rate is sky high with a seemingly endless motor. Magdaleno is coming off 4 fight win streak, and in my opinion, poses the most significant threat to Salido of the trio.
At 33 years old, the grizzled veteran, Salido, will struggle to keep up with Magdaleno and pressure him against the ropes. Magdaleno will not play into Salido’s game by trading shots all night like Terdsak Kokietgym (54-5-1, 34 KOs). Even though Salido/Martinez will most likely offer the fans a brutal war, it is difficult to overlook the fact that Salido is passing up the more skilled, more worthy opponent in Magdaleno.
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