Puello, Martin relish huge opportunity on Tank-Roach card
WBC 140 world title on line; Tellez steps up vs. 'J Rock' in crossroads fight; Jim Lampley analyzes main event; the weigh-in; PPV details
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Sandor Martin has a waited a long time for a world title fight and he finally has it after 14 years as a pro.
He is the mandatory challenger and will face WBC junior welterweight titlist Alberto Puello on the Gervonta Davis-Lamont Roach Jr. undercard on Saturday (Prime Video PPV, PPV.COM, 8 p.m. ET, $79.95) at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Since a decision loss in 2017, he is 13-1. He scored his biggest win in upset fashion when he outpointed former four-division titleholder Mikey Garcia and sent him into retirement in 2021.
Two fights later Martin knocked down Teofimo Lopez, now the lineal/WBO champion, in the second round and lost a disputed 10-round split decision in a nontitle bout at New York’s Madison Square Garden.
“The last time I fought in New York, I only had three weeks to prepare for the fight,” Martin said of the Lopez bout. “This time I have had more than six months. I’m here in the prime of my career.”
Martin (42-3, 15 KOs), 31, a Spanish southpaw, has won two fights since the loss to Lopez, both by knockout, to finally land the elusive title opportunity.
