Christopher Martin and Artemio Cruz Win By KOs in California

ONTARIO, CA-Junior featherweight contender Christopher “The San Diego Kid” Martin showed why Thompson Boxing Promotions recently signed him in stopping Arizona's Robert Guillen by knockout on Friday.

Martin (25-2-3, 8 KOs) proved why he's still a contender in knocking out Guillen (6-10-3) with a swift counter punch before a crowd of more than 1,200 at the Doubletree Hotel. The slick counter puncher looked on target despite a very calm start.

“It's the way I fight. I try to be like (Leo) Santa Cruz but I can't. It's my style to fight this way,” said Martin of his slow starts. “I see everything this way.”

Martin saw all of the blows coming from Guillen, who opened the fight blasting away with resounding blows especially to the body. The Arizona fighter was intent on being the attacker. Martin simply blocked, slipped and moved to one side or the other with a few counter punches but nothing serious.

Round two saw Guillen move in behind some big shots loaded with bad intention when suddenly a quick left hand counter caught the Arizona fighter on the chin and down he went. He could not get up despite trying mightily. Referee Raul Caiz stopped the fight at 1:37 of round two.

“I'm going to stay at 122 pounds. I heard that Leo Santa Cruz is coming up and I want to fight him, Jorge Arce, Nonito Donaire. I want to fight all of them,” said Martin.

Other bouts

San Bernardino's Artemio Reyes Jr. (18-2, 14 KOs) took his time as Pipino Cuevas Jr. (15-9, 13 KOs) unloaded his big shots in round one in their welterweight match. But then came round two and Reyes slipped into attack mode and began to target Cuevas' body. The first big left hook nearly collapsed Cuevas' knees but he he remained standing. Reyes moved in behind with another combination including another body shot that took the air out of Cuevas' legs. Down he went and wasn't very confident despite beating the count. Referee Raul Caiz called the fight at 1:51 of round two.

Reyes has won three successive fights since his last loss in April.

Newly signed Derrick “Whup Dat Ass” Murray (5-0-1, 3 KOs) of St. Louis dropped Guatemala's Oscar Chinchilla (2-3-1) with a crisp one-two combination then cruised to victory after four rounds. Murray boxed and slipped Chinchilla's southpaw blows for all four rounds in winning by unanimous decision 40-35 in a junior lightweight bout.

Long Beach heavyweight Javier “Monster” Torres (5-0, 3 KOs) dropped Marion “Diesel” Santizo (0-2) with a boy shot in round one, but the Lake Elsinore fighter got tougher. Finally, at 1:11 of round four a left uppercut by Torres followed by three more blows convinced Santizo's corner to throw in the towel.

San Bernardino's Joshua Conley (4-0, 4 KOs) took about a minute to figure out Mexicali Mike Noriega's (4-2, 4 KOs) style before unloading some bombs to win by explosive knockout at 2:19 of round one. It began with a punishing left hook to the stomach then five more big blows had Noriega in lullaby land in the junior middleweight match.

San Pedro's Isaac Zarate (5-0) came out blasting and got return fire from L.A.'s Abel Gomez (3-6). But after four rounds it was Zarate's more accurate southpaw punching that proved the difference in winning by unanimous decision after four rounds of a junior featherweight fight.

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