Photos: Frank Martin Dazzles in Dominant Win Over Michel Rivera

Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas – In a high stakes battle between undefeated lightweight contenders, Frank Martin (17-0, 12 KOs) fought his way to a dominant twelve round unanimous decision over Michel Rivera (24-1, 14 KOs). (photos by Esther Lin)

The scores were 117-110, 118-109 and 120-107.

They both came out jabbing and picking their shots. A lot of defense on display as neither was able to connect with much. In the second, Martin was really starting to open up with combinations and quick punches. Rivera was jabbing, but Martin was firing back with power shots.

Rivera started well in the third, before Martin began to come back with the heavier blows. They started faster in the fourth, with Rivera landing a solid right hand. Rivera was boxing well and keeping Martin at bay until the final thirty seconds, with Martin letting his hands go. 

The fifth saw Rivera start jabbing and coming with the right hand behind it. He boxed well for most of the round, with Martin at bay for the most part. Martin came back in the sixth, as he outlanded Rivera with heavy punches connecting. During the seventh, Martin was unloading with his punches and dropped Rivera with a combination.

Martin controlled the eight and ninth with the harder punches and more activity as Rivera had no answers. Martin was easily controlling the tenth, with the more accurate punches. In the eleventh, Martin connected with several hard shots during exchanges and had Rivera going. In the twelfth, Rivera did a little better, but he was still outlanded throughout the action.