“Rocky”  

• Two-time WBO jr. lightweight world champion, two successful defenses…
• World championship fights: 4-1, 3 KOs
• Former WBO Intercontinental jr. lightweight champion…
• Former NABO jr. lightweight champion...

At the age of 29, Roman is a 10-year pro. A two-time WBO junior lightweight world champion, he won the title for the first time in March, 2009, and made two successful defenses.

He regained the title in his last fight on September 15 with a 12-round split decision win against Miguel Beltran Jr. The fight was one of the co-features with the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Sergio Martinez main event.

After the fight, Dan Rafael wrote on ESPN.com [excerpts]: Most folks will remember the epic ending of the main event, but the fight of the night was this gem of a scrap that will figure in for fight of the year honorable mention status. Adrien Broner…was stripped of the belt and Martinez, who once held this title, and Beltran were ordered to fight for the vacant strap. And what a fight they gave us.

These guys battled tooth and nail, and hurt each other repeatedly.

Martinez first held the title from 2009 to 2010, making two defenses before losing a decision in a terrific fight to Ricky Burns. [End Rafael item]

Roman won the title for the first time in March, 2009, with a fourth-round TKO against defending champion Nicky Cook on Cook’s home turf in Manchester, England.

Fightwriter.com’s Graham Houston reported [excerpts]: Roman “Rocky” Martinez was just too mentally and physically tough for Londoner Nicky Cook in their WBO junior lightweight title fight. Although Cook almost dropped Martinez with a left hook in the second round it seemed that the unbeaten Puerto Rican was taking over the fight in the fourth, although his stoppage win in this round came suddenly. It was essentially all over when a beautiful left uppercut sent the British fighter down, and another knockdown convinced the referee that Cook was out of the fight. Cook had fought well for three rounds but Martinez seemed to be taking the fight to a new intensity-level in round four, and Cook was already starting to wilt when he got caught and dropped. [End Houston item]

Roman’s win against Beltran Jr. was his first fight in 11 months. He said, “I think the layoff has helped me get back my love for the sport, and to focus more on my career. After the first loss of my career I had to get away from boxing a little bit, but once I got over it, I knew I was ready to come back and seek the world championship once again.”

Roman is experienced against very good opposition. He has fought world champions Ricky Burns (L12) and Nicky Cook (TKO4), as well as contenders Santos Benavides (TKO6), Daniel Jimenez (KO12) and Francisco Lorenzo (W12).

Fight by Fight – 2012 – WON VACANT WBO JL WORLD TITLE - in his last fight on 9-15-12 in Las Vegas, NV, he won a 12 round split decision against Miguel Beltran Jr. (27-1): the bout was one of the co-features with the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Sergio Martinez main event, and it was fast-paced and exciting; the momentum shifted back and forth, several rounds were very close, and both were rocked repeatedly;  Beltran was cut over his left eye in the middle rounds and was penalized one point for punching behind the head in the 11^th round, which made the difference for him in a draw and a loss; scored 114-113, 114-113 Martinez, 116-111 Beltran…

Fight by Fight – 2012 – WON VACANT WBO JL WORLD TITLE - in his last fight on 9-15-12 in Las Vegas, NV, he won a 12 round split decision against Miguel Beltran Jr. (27-1): the bout was one of the co-features with the Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.-Sergio Martinez main event, and it was fast-paced and exciting; the momentum shifted back and forth, several rounds were very close, and both were rocked repeatedly;  Beltran was cut over his left eye in the middle rounds and was penalized one point for punching behind the head in the 11^th round, which made the difference for him in a draw and a loss; scored 114-113, 114-113 Martinez, 116-111 Beltran…

2011 – WON WBO INTERCONTINENTAL JL TITLE - in his last fight on 10-1-11 in Bayamon, PR, he TKOd lefthanded former world title challenger Daniel Attah (26-7-1): the fight was co-featured with the Juan Manuel Lopez-Mike Oliver main event, and Roman dominated; he scored a knockdown in the 3^rd round, then scored two more knockdowns in the 6^th – the first with a right hand, the second with a series of punches - and the referee stopped the fight at 1:50…

2010 – LOST WBO JL WORLD TITLE - on 9-4-10 in Glasgow, SCOT, he lost a 12 round unanimous decision against former Commonwealth super featherweight champion and local favorite Ricky Burns (28-2): the fight headlined at Kelvin Hall, and it was fast-paced and exciting - one of the best fights of the year; both were rocked several times and the momentum shifted back and forth - Roman scored a knockdown with a right hand in the 1^st round, then won the 2^nd on two scorecards, but Burns came back and swept the 3^rd, 4^th rounds on all three scorecards, then staggered Roman with a series of punches in the 5^th, swept the round, then won the 6^th on two scorecards; Roman rallied and swept the 7^th, Burns swept the 8^th round, then Roman came back and swept the 9^th; but Burns finished the fight strongly – he swept the 10^th, 11^th, and 12^th rounds, and won by scores of 115-112, 115-112, 115-113…

2^ND WBO JL WORLD TITLE DEFENSE – on 5-29-10 in Bayamon, PR, he knocked out Gonzalo Munguia (17-6-3): the fight was co-featured with the Wilfredo Vazquez Jr.-Zsolt Bedak main event, and it was fast-paced and exciting; Roman boxed well, but Munguia pressed forward and the momentum shifted back and forth – Munguia rallied and rocked Roman several times in the 3^rd round, but Roman came back and staggered him late in the round; Roman scored a knockdown with a right uppercut in the 4^th, and Munguia was counted out at 1:48; after three rounds, Roman led by scores of 29-28, 29-28, 30-27…

2009 – 1^ST WBO JL WORLD TITLE DEFENSE – on 9-12-09 in Hato Rey, PR, he TKOd Feider Viloria (22-4-1): the fight was co-featured with the Ivan Calderon-Rodel Mayol main event; Viloria kept Roman off-balance with almost constant movement and the early rounds were close, but Roman pressed forward, landed the harder punches, and steadily wore him down; Roman rocked Viloria several times with right hands in the 8^th round, then scored a knockdown with a series of right hands in the 9^th and the referee stopped the fight at 2:59; after eight rounds, the fight was scored 77-75, 78-74 Martinez, 76-76…

WON WBO JL WORLD TITLE – on 3-14-09 in Manchester, ENG, he TKOd defending champion Nicky Cook (29-1): the fight was co-featured with the Amir Khan-Marco Antonio Barrera main event; Cook boxed well and staggered Roman with a left hook in the 2^nd round – Roman’s glove touched the canvas, but the referee did not rule a knockdown; Roman rallied and scored two knockdowns in the 4^th, the first with a left uppercut, the second with a left hook – Cook got up both times, but was very unsteady after the second knockdown and the referee stopped the fight at 2:20; after three rounds, Cook led by scores of 30-27, 30-27, 29-28…

2008 –on 12-13-08 in Hato Rey he won a 10 round unanimous decision against lefthanded Walter Estrada (34-7): the bout was co-featured with the Eric Morel-Ricardo Vargas main event, and Roman dominated most of the fight; he scored one knockdown in the 9^th round and another in the 10^th, and won by scores of 98-89, 98-89, 97-90…

1^ST NABO JL TITLE DEFENSE - on 8-30-08 in Bayamon he TKOd lefthanded Santos Benavides (15-1-1): the fight was co-featured with the Ivan Calderon-Hugo Cazares main event – it was fast-paced and exciting, and stole the show; Benavides scored a knockdown with a left hand in the 2^nd round, but Roman came back, rocked him with a series of punches later in the round, and rallied in the following rounds; Roman scored a knockdown with a right hand that dropped Benavides flat on his back in the 6^th - he got up, but Roman rocked him with a series of punches and the referee stopped the fight at 2:03…

On 4-25-08 in Toa Baja, PR, he won a 10 round unanimous decision against Cristian Favela (15-14-4): the fight headlined at Coliseo Antonio R. Barcelo; Roman outworked Favela and landed the sharper punches, and dominated the early and middle rounds; Favela rallied late in the fight, but Roman won by scores of 99-91, 98-92, 97-93...

On 2-23-08 in Caguas, PR, he TKOd Jose Cruz (3-0): this fight was the rematch of their 6-round draw in October, 2003; Roman stopped Cruz in the 3^rd round; after two rounds, he led by scores of 20-16, 20-16, 20-18...

2007 - WON NABO JL TITLE – on 8-25-07 in Bayamon, PR, he knocked out Daniel Jimenez (17-1-1): the bout was co-featured with the Ivan Caleron-Hugo Cazares main event - it was a fast-paced, exciting fight that repeatedly brought the fans to their feet; Jimenez started strongly and outworked Roman in the early rounds, but Roman landed the harder punches and steadily wore him down; both tired in the late rounds but kept fighting hard; Roman scored a knockdown in the 12^th round, and Jimenez was counted out at 1:51; after 10 rounds, the fight was scored 105-104, 105-104 Martinez, 105-104 Jimenez...

On 6-22-07 in Hato Rey, PR, he TKOd Genaro Trazcanos (21-8-1): the fight was co-featured with the Juan Manuel Lopez-Giovanni Andrade main event; Roman scored a knockdown with a right hand in the 2^nd round; Roman staggered Trazcanos with a series of piunches in the 3^rd round, and the referee stopped the fight at 2:43...

On 2-2-07 in San Juan he won a 12 round split decision against 35 year-old Francisco Lorenzo (27-3): the bout headlined at Coliseo Pedrin Zorilla, and it was a close, exciting fight; Lorenzo outworked Roman in the early rounds with a relentless pace and built a lead on the scorecards, but Roman pressing forward and landed the harder punches; Roman was cut over his right eye by a clash of heads in the 6^th round, but rallied in the middle and late rounds and finished the fight strongly; it looked like the decision could go either way, but the judges scored 115-113, 115-113 Martinez, 115-113 Lorenzo…

2006 – on 11-17-06 in Guaynabo, PR, he won a technical decision against Baudel Cardenas (15-7-2): Roman dominated most of the fight; he scored one knockdown in the 9^th round, then scored another knockdown in the 10^th, and the referee stopped the fight at 0:41...

On 9-30-06 in Caguas he TKOd lefthanded 36 year-old three-time world title challenger Wilfredo Vargas (23-13-1): Roman scored one knockdown in the 2^nd round and another in the 3^rd, and the referee stopped the fight at 1:56; after two rounds, Roman led by scores of 20-17 on all three scorecards...

2005 - on 10-21-05 in Hato Rey he won a 10 round unanimous decision against Jose Soto-Karrass (19-9): the bout was co-featured at Coliseo Jose Miguel Agrelot; Soto-Karass is the older brother of welterweight veteran Jesus Soto-Karass; Roman was cut over his right eye by a clash of heads, but outworked Soto-Karass, landed the harder punches, and dominated most of the fight; scored 98-91, 98-91, 97-92...

On 3-5-05 in Las Vegas he won an 8 round unanimous decision against Derrick Moon (9-6-1): the fight was on the undercard of the Jose Luis Castillo-Julio Diaz main event; Moon kept Roman off-balance with constant movement in the early rounds, but Roman kept pressing forward, slowed him down with body punches, and rallied in the middle and late rounds; scored 79-73, 77-75, 77-75...

On 1-27-05 in Glen Burnie, MD, he knocked out Mario Lacey (7-7-4): Roman scored three knockdowns in the 4^th round, all with right hand-left hook combinations; he scored another knockdown with the same two-punch combination in the 5^th, and Lacey was counted out at 1:35...

2004 – on 7-15-04 in Santa Ynez, CA, he won an 8 round unanimous decision against Johnny Walker (18-9): scored 80-72, 79-73, 79-73...

On 4-23-04 in Carolina, PR, he TKOd Celestino Rodriguez (4-1-1): in the 7^th round...

2003 – on 10-24-03 in Miccosukee, FL, he fought to a 6 round draw against undefeated prospect Jose Leonardo Cruz (9-0): scored 57-55 Martinez, 57-55 Cruz, 56-56...

On 4-12-03 in Miccosukee he TKOd Joe Johnson (1-3-2): in the 3^rd round...

On 2-21-03 in Miami, FL, he TKOd Adisone Sengaroun (4-7-1): Roman wore down Sengaroun, rocked him several times, and stopped him at 1:47 of the 3^rd round…

2002 - on 10-27-02 Guaynabo, PR, he won a 4 round unanimous decision against Israel Coraliz (3-15-3)...

On 10-5-02 in Detroit, MI, he knocked out Richard Boyd (debut): at 1:51 of the 1^st round…

On 3-23-02 in Bayamon, PR, he won a 4 round split decision against Israel Galarza (1-0): Roman scored a knockdown in the 1^st round, but Galarza came back and gave a good effort for the rest of the fight…

On 2-22-02 in Miami he knocked out Ricky Piedra (1-0): Piedra was favored to win the fight, but Roman scored a knockdown in the 1^st round, and Piedra was counted out…

He debuted at the age of 18 on 12-22-01 in Manati, PR, and TKOd Wilfredo Ramos (1-3): in the 4^th round…

AMATEUR, PERSONAL BACKGROUND: Roman said through an interpreter, “I was born and raised in Arecibo, Puerto Rico. I have six brothers and four sisters. Right now, my father is unemployed because he has a back issue, but he was working in construction. My mother is a housewife. Two of my brothers boxed as amateurs, but never turned pro.

“My interest in boxing started when I watched Felix “Tito” Trinidad and other great boxers, and I wanted to be like them.

“I started boxing when I was 12 years old and had 60 amateur fights, with a record of 45-15. I won the International José “Cheo” Aponte Tournament in Caguas, Puerto Rico.

“I’m a fulltime fighter. I’m naturally righthanded.”…

Roman lives with his girlfriend and has a son and daughter…

STRENGTHS: Has an aggressive style, good skills and movement...has good punching power...is always in top condition, has good stamina...tough and determined…is experienced against good opposition...

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 28 fights...181 total rounds...41 world championship rounds…

AVERAGE LENGTH OF BOUTS: 6.4 rounds...

KNOCKOUT PERCENTAGE: 61 %...

DISTANCE FIGHTS: 12 rounds – 4 (3-1)...10 rounds – 4 (4-0)...