Sergio Martinez vs Alex Bunema

On the undercard of the first bout between Erik Morales and Marco Antonio Barrera, future champions Antonio Margarito and Sergio Martinez collide as welterweights. Martinez out duels Margarito in the opening round until Margarito catches him with a one-two in the final seconds that sends Martinez in between the rope strands, where he becomes caught up. Referee Joe Cortez appropriately rules a knockdown as the fight shifts completely to Margarito's favor. Martinez lands his share of power shots, but they are nothing compared to what Margarito dishes out. Margarito staggers him in the sixth round and has him hurt again at the end of the seventh. With only seconds left in the round and Martinez taking a beating, Cortez jumps in to stop the fight.

Antonio Margarito vs. Sergio Martinez

Middleweight Champion Sergio Martinez stops another undefeated fighter when he defends his crown against Darren Barker. Bringing a tight defense and forcing a close fight, Barker makes life difficult for Martinez, bloodying the nose of the champion in the fourth round. Martinez, however, manages to outwork the challenger and edge the majority of the rounds on activity. In the tenth round, Martinez stuns Barker with a straight left hand and then badly hurts him with a right. Two right hooks around the guard drop Barker onto his hands and knees in the eleventh. He rolls over onto his back before trying to make it back to his feet, but Referee Eddie Cotton counts him out, ending the fight.

Sergio Martinez vs Alex Bunema

Antonio Margarito vs. Sergio Martinez

Sergio Martinez vs. Darren Barker

On this Day