Ricky Burns has won the WBO Super Featherweight title after outpointing previously unbeaten champion Roman Martinez in a thriller at the Kelvin Hall, Glasgow.
The win makes Burns Britain's third world champion, joining WBA titleholders David Haye and Amir Khan.
Martinez was the heavy favourite coming into his third defence of the title he won stopping Nicky Cook last year. "Rocky" was losing the first round before flooring Burns and showing his superior punching power. Burns looked unnerved and continued on to the bell.
Burns took control hereafter and used his jab to good effect. Burns seemed to hit Martinez at will, especially off the backfoot, making the champion look ordinary. Martinez continued to land clean shots but the better work was coming from the challenger who was being spurred on by a partisan crowd. The fifth was perhaps the round of the fight. Both men staggered each other but once again it was Burns who was producing the better work and cleaner punches to wobble his foe.
A huge left by Martinez in the seventh rocked Burns and the Coatsbridge man was in trouble but he gamely held on and continued to pressurize from the eighth onwards. Desperation began to creep into Martinez's work as wild punches started being thrown and despite landing, it wasn't troubling Burns.
Martinez came out swinging in the twelth but it was not enough as Burns continued to use his jab and landed the better shots against the champion. Martinez was then wobbled but survived to the bell when Burns saluted the crowd for spurring him on, whilst Martinez walked to his corner with the look of a beaten man.
Scores were 115-112, 115-112 and 115-113. Burns moves to 29-2 7KO's whilst Martinez falls to 24-1-1 15KO's.
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