Alberto Puello Defeats Sandor Martin By Split Decision

?Alberto Puello successfully defended his WBC super lightweight title with a hard-fought split decision victory over Sandor Martin at the Barclays Center. In a bout that saw shifts in momentum and a contrasting approach from both fighters, Puello did just enough in the second half of the fight to secure the win on two of the three judges' scorecards. The official scores read David Sutherland 115-113 and Don Trella 116-112 in favour of the defending champion, while the third judge,  Mark Consentino saw it 115-113 for Martin, reflecting the competitiveness of the contest.

The early rounds saw an unusually aggressive Martin, who typically favours a counterpunching style but took the fight to Puello with sharp left hands to the body. His willingness to press forward caught Puello off guard, forcing the Dominican champion to adjust to a counterpunching role rather than dictating the pace. As Martin continued to work his way inside, Puello found success in the third round by timing his opponent with counter-right hooks, but the Spaniard maintained his work rate and looked to be edging the fight through the first half.

Puello, however, began to turn the tide in the later rounds. The eighth proved a key turning point, as the champion landed two solid overhand lefts that slowed Martin's forward momentum. From that point on, Puello took control, making the final rounds his best of the fight. He opened up more with his combinations and landed clean right hooks and left hands, drawing blood from Martin. His late surge was enough to sway the judges in his favour, allowing him to retain his title and extend his undefeated record to 24-0 (10 KOs).

For Martin, the loss marks another frustrating trip to New York after his disputed split decision defeat to Teofimo Lopez in 2022. Now 42-4 (15 KOs), he finds himself on the wrong end of a razor-thin decision on American soil despite a strong start and moments of success throughout the fight. While he may feel hard done by, his performance was strong enough to ensure he remains a factor in the 140-pound division.

Puello, now a two-time world champion at super lightweight, adds another solid name to his record. Having won the WBA version of the title initially in 2022 before being stripped due to a failed drug test, this victory marks his first successful defence of the WBC belt he was elevated to after Devin Haney vacated the division's undisputed championship. With the win, Puello positions himself for bigger fights, potentially against the division's elite, as he looks to fully establish himself as a dominant force at 140 pounds.