Orlando Salido Meets Rocky Martinez on April 11

CAROLINA, PUERTO RICO- It will be a new edition in the popular boxing rivalry between Puerto Rico and Mexico. It’s official.

On Saturday, April 11, World Boxing Organization (WBO) junior lightweight champion Orlando “Siri” Salido, from Mexico, will face two-time former WBO champion at 130 pounds, Roman “Rocky” Martinez, from Puerto Rico, in “The War”, to be held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico José Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, in a PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP) presentation in association with Promociones Zanfer.

The expected Siri Salido vs Rocky Martinez clash will be air exclusively on “Pay Per View” in Puerto Rico, United States and Canada to all the Cable TV and Satellite systems.

“Today we make it official with the boxers, The War, Salido vs Martinez is official for April 11 in Puerto Rico. Everything is agreed for hosting this event, in which two of the fiercest fighters there in boxing, Orlando Salido and Rocky Martinez will face off, two boxers who always give everything on in the ring and this April 11 will face for a belt that Salido owns and Rocky will try to take,” promoter Ivan Rivera, president of PRBBP, said. “We call this show as “The War” because that is what we expect, a battle that has all the ingredients for it, plus another chapter in the rivalry between Mexico and Puerto Rico in boxing.”

Salido (42-12-2, 29 KOs), a native of Ciudad Obregon, Sonora, Mexico, will make the first defense of the title he won on September 20, 2014, when beat Thai Terdsak Kokietgym by KO in 11 rounds in one of the most spectacular fights in which Kokietgym went to the canvas four times by three for the Mexican. Salido was a WBO and International Boxing Federation (IBF) world champion at featherweight (126 lbs).

Also Salido, 34, will look to extend his winning streak against Puerto Rican boxers, which is now five. In 2002, a young Salido won a decision against an experienced Carlos “Topo” Gerena in Texas, in 2004 Salido came to Puerto Rico and defeated by knockout in four rounds Omar Adorno, in 2011 traveled back to Puerto Rico and won by TKO in eight rounds over Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez, in 2012 he returned to beat Juanma Lopez, this time by 10th-round knockout, while in 2013 he defeated Orlando “El Fenomeno” Cruz by a seventh round knockout in Las Vegas.

“I feel so happy on fighting again in Puerto Rico. The fans have been very good with me here,” Salido said. “But I know that I will face a former world champion, who is a warrior and I’m training hard to keep my title.”

Martinez (28-2-2, 17 KOs), ranked #13 by the WBO at 130 pounds, will attempt to win a world belt for the first time in Puerto Rico and become the WBO 130 pounds world champion for the third time. The first time the fighter won the WBO junior lightweight crown was in the United Kingdom with a TKO win in four rounds over then monarch Nicky Cook in 2009. Then he was crowned in 2012 with a split decision victory over Mexican Miguel Beltran Jr. in Las Vegas. Martinez, who turned 32 in January, is coming off a second round KO victory over Herbert Quartey in December 2014.

“This is going to be a war between Salido and me, I know it will be so. All the people know Salido and me, we are warriors, so you will expect a war,” Martinez said. “I’m excited about fighting for a world title again and do it at home. For the first time I have the opportunity to win it here in Puerto Rico with my people and that is great. It is a special motivation for me.”

The undercard will be announced shortly.

“The War” between Salido and Martinez will be broadcast on “Pay Per View” at a cost of $39.95 for Puerto Rico, the US and Canada on all Cable TV and Satellite systems.

Tickets for “The War” are on Ticket Pop; call (787) 294-0001 or access www.ticketpop.com. Prices are $25, $50, $100, $200 and $300.

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