Magee and Martinez victorious in Dublin double-header
Brian Magee retained his European super-middleweight title in impressive fashion on Saturday September 11th by halting Armenia’s Roman Aramian after eight one-sided rounds in Dublin’s National Stadium. Aramian appeared for the ninth round holding his right arm gesturing that an injury had occurred. In truth, Magee had simply battered him into submission.
Southpaw Magee belied his 35 years and made a case for himself as a genuine world title candidate. WBA ‘regular’ champion Dmitri Sartison or WBO king Robert Stieglitz look the two likely targets and on this evidence Magee could beat either. Make no mistake, Aramian was no world beater himself but had mixed in decent company and usually lasted the pace. Brian’s impressive jab, straight left hand and classy right hook to the body made him too hot to handle and from the seventh-round onwards Italian referee Luigi Muratore could have justifiably stepped in.
“Roman was even tougher than I expected and he always felt he had a chance to catch me, which kept me on edge and I had to stay alert and take nothing for granted,” said a delighted Magee in the changing rooms.
“I had to pace it because he was throwing a few swingers out there and I didn’t want to punch myself out,” he added, before paying testament to the work of his team, which includes Panamanian Bernardo Checa and manager Pat Magee.
Spaniard Kiko Martinez enjoyed a warm reception on his return to Dublin as “La Sensacion” became European super-bantamweight champion for the second time. The 24-year-old beat plucky Arsen Martirosyan over 12 rounds as former victim Bernard Dunne looked on from his vantage point, analysing for TV station RTE. Quite what Dunne made of Kiko’s performance is unknown to me (I haven’t watched the broadcast yet) but it was noted how the explosive puncher elected to box his way home when it became clear he was not going to smash the resistance out of Martirosyan.
The Frenchman played his part and even rocked Martinez in the final session, but ultimately suffered from a lack of pop in his punches. Unbeaten livewire Willie “Big Bang” Casey is likely to meet Martinez next, in his native Limerick, in what will not be a contest for the feint hearted.
In an all-Dublin affair, Irish super-middleweight champion Anthony Fitzgerald outscored Robert Long by a whisker in their third meeting (one win each). It seemed that “The Pride” would be able to grind down his opponent, who had been inactive for almost a year, but Long’s stamina held up well and he went out on his shield 96-94 in a cracker. What price a fourth fight?
EU super-bantamweight champion Paul Hyland also has an eye on Casey and Martinez. Paulie outscored American Robert DaLuz over eight entertaining rounds. Hyland produced the tidier boxing and showed his impressive jab and loose style to keep DaLuz at bay. The showboating away man played his part though.
Cuban duo Alexei Acosta (super-bantamweight) and Luis Garcia (super-middleweight) both recorded comprehensive victories over international opposition. Acosta stopped Venezuelan Oscar Chacin in the sixth of a slated eight-rounder. Garcia’s contest never looked like going the distance as he pummelled Christian Cruz in some style. Cruz had pedigree but Garcia never let him into the fight.
Irish heavyweight champion Coleman Barrett outpointed Latvian Remigijus Ziausys over four rounds. Barrett used his superior movement and southpaw skills to keep the smaller man at range.
Finglas debutant Brendan Fitzpatrick pleased his vast following with a comprehensive second-round stoppage of Mariusz Radziszewski. The Polish visitor has now lost all six professional contests and his lack of experience showed. Fitzpatrick looks the part and his body shots did the damage in this super-middleweight affair.
Well conditioned welterweight Gavin Prunty went on after the main event in a four-rounder against Arek Malek. The Dubliner is still a few fights off title level but is improving and outworked veteran Malek for a points win.
