By Ken Hissner: At the Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas, Nevada, Saturday over Showtime promoter Tom Brown (TGB Promotions) presented in the Main Event Frank “The Ghost” Martin defeated Olympic Bronze Medalist and WBC International Lightweight champion Artem Harutyunyan in a WBC title eliminator.
In the Main Event Lightweight southpaw Frank “The Ghost” Martin, 18-0 (12), #135, of Indianapolis, IND, defeated Olympic Bronze Medalist and WBC Int’l Light champion Artem Harutyunyan, 12-1 (7), #134 ½, of Yerevan, ARM and Hamburg, GER, over 12 rounds scoring the lone knockdown.
In the first round it was competitive and close as southpaw Martin used a good body work. In the second and third rounds Harutyunyan came back well out landing Martin to take both close rounds. In the fourth round Martin’s jab gave him the edge in another close round against Harutyunyan fighting out of Germany for the first time.
In the fifth round they clashed heads effecting Harutyunyan more than Martin. Harutyunyan had an edge in the round overall. In the sixth rounds halfway point Martin landed a dozen unanswered punches driving Harutyunyan across the ring.
In the seventh round Harutyunyan outworked Martin landing a hard right uppercut to the mid-section in the final seconds. In the eighth round Martin came back well using a left uppercut besides an effective jab in a close round. In the ninth round Harutyunyan came back well landing lead rights to the chin of Martin.
In the tenth round they clashed heads half a minute into the round. Martin had a good round not only with the jab but body work landing half a dozen unanswered punches halfway through the round.
In the eleventh round Martin did well ending the round with a right hook the end of half a dozen punches almost dropping him at the bell.
In the twelfth and final round Martin forced Harutyunyan to take a knee in the final minute causing Referee Thomas Taylor to give him an 8-count. His swelling under his left eye was worse and almost closed at the end.
Scores were 114-113 and 115-112 twice as did KH.
Super Light southpaw Elvis “The Dominican Kid” Rodriguez, 15-1-1 (13), #141 ¾, of Santo Domingo, DR, stopped former WBC Light Welter champ Viktor “The Iceman” Postol, 31-5 (12), #141 ½, of Brovari, UKR, at 0:23 of the seventh round of a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the first round Pistol out landed Rodriguez coming forward with an effective jab. In the second round southpaw Rodriguez had a better round landing a solid right to the chin in the final twenty seconds. In the third rounds halfway point Rodriguez rocked Pistol with a jab on the chin.
In the fifth rounds final half minute Rodriguez hurt Postol with a combination on the chin. In the sixth rounds final seconds Rodriguez dropped Postol with a right hook on the chin getting an 8-count from Referee Celestino Ruiz. In the seventh round Rodriguez went right after Postol having him defenseless when Referee Ruiz called a halt.
Welter southpaw Freudis Rojas, 11-0 (11), #146 ½, of Las Vegas, NV, stopped Diego “Chico” Santiago Sanchez, 19-3 (16), #146 ½, of Tijuana, MEX and San Diego, CA, at 0:58 of the seventh round of a scheduled 10 rounds.
In the first round much taller Rojas had a good round with an effective jab. In the second round a Rojas left uppercut to the chin rocked Sanchez midway. In the third through the fifth rounds Rojas continued out landing the shorter Sanchez with his reach advantage.
In the seventh round Rojas had Sanchez defenseless when the Sanchez corner called a halt.
Referee Tony Weeks