Arturo Cardenas learned his lesson, made the adjustments and rebuilt his name tonight.
In a restorative effort that followed his surprise draw with Phoenix’s then-free-agent fighter Jordan Martinez in February, Mexico’s Cardenas defeated Martinez by wide scores of 100-90, 98-92, 97-93 in the co-featured bout to support tonight’s Bam” Rodriguez vs. Antonio Vargas main event at Desert Diamond Arena.
Crediting training-camp fixes and a commitment that, “I can’t give up rounds,” Cardenas improved to 18-0-2 while Martinez dropped to 16-1-1.
Martinez, 23, transformed his inspired draw versus Cardenas in the same ring into a new contract with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing, and he vowed during fight week to make this outcome more convincing.
The assured Phoenix fighter entered to music he lip-synched and danced to, with both men declining to touch gloves after meeting with referee Rajul Caiz Jnr before the first bell.
Yet, Cardenas seized control, opening the bout reliant on his jab while Martinez re-explored the advantage of his hand speed.
Cardenas’ right uppercut made Martinez pay for charging in during the third, but Martinez answered with a head-jarring right. Cardenas focused on keeping Martinez close, subject to his crisp blows.
Under the instruction of two-time trainer of the year Robert Garcia, Cardenas listened intently between rounds as Garcia instructed the fighter to keep his gloves raised.
That moved Martinez to vary his deliveries, working the body and using the jab to create openings for his effective right in the fourth.
The action intensified with high-quality exchanges in the fifth and sixth. Martinez showed slight vulnerability by breathing through his mouth in the seventh.
Cardenas had created separation and Martinez was left struggling to find a greater gear.
They each backed off their earlier pace in the eighth.
Cardenas fought with urgency he lacked in February in the ninth, scoring points and establishing himself as the aggressor. Martinez sought to catch up, but was cited for hitting Cardenas in the back of the head.
Martinez worked to make the 10th his with a bevy of scoring blows. Cardenas urged on the action while rallying, landing three consecutive rights.
The pair embraced when the fervent action closed and Martinez clapped for his opponent as the scores by Jack Reiss, Max DeLuca and Tim Cheatham were read.
