LAS VEGAS – Robert Garcia had seen more than enough after the seventh round Friday night.
Andres Cortes’ right hand opened a nasty gash beneath Xavier Martinez’s left eye in the seventh round, which led Garcia, Martinez’s trainer, to stop their scheduled 10-round junior lightweight bout before the eighth round began. Cortes was therefore declared the winner by technical knockout on the Seniesa Estrada-Leonela Yudica undercard at Palms Casino Resort’s Pearl Theater.
Las Vegas’ Cortes improved to 20-0 by winning the biggest fight of his career and produced his 11th knockout. Cortes was ahead on two scorecards (68-65, 67-66) and trailed on one card (66-67) at the time of the stoppage.
Sacramento’s Martinez slipped to 18-2 (12 KOs). He also lost by knockout for the first time in eight years as a pro.
Cortes cracked Martinez with a right hand in the seventh round that caused the laceration that ultimately ended their bout.
A stiff jab by Cortes knocked Martinez into the ropes just before the sixth round ended. Martinez’s right hand backed up Cortes a little less than 40 seconds into the fifth round.
A right hand by Martinez backed Cortes toward the ropes as the fourth round drew to a close. Martinez landed a left hook on the inside just after the halfway point of the fourth round.
Martinez and Cortes landed right hands in an exchange with less than 20 seconds to go in the third round.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.