Boxing: 'Rocky' Martinez to Defend WBO 130-Pound Title Against Vasyl Lomachenko

HBO will televise an intriguing doubleheader on Saturday June 11 in New York, one day before the famous Puerto Rican Day Parade. Headlining the event inside the Theatre at Madison Square Garden will be the WBO junior lightweight championship between Roman “Rocky” Martinez defending his title against Vasyl Lomachenko.

The co-main event will see surging Puerto Rican sensation Felix Verdejo taking on Juan Jose Martinez in a 10-round lightweight battle.

Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs) is coming off back-to-back wars with former world champion Orlando Salido. “Rocky” won their first meeting via unanimous decision and then battled his rival to an intense draw last September. Martinez won the WBO title from Salido when they first locked horns, a belt he had captured twice previously.

“I feel very happy returning to New York to fight, and even more on a special date like the Puerto Rican Day Parade,” Martinez, a native of Vega Baja, Puerto Rico, said. “I know that a lot of Puerto Ricans will be there and I'll be ready, as always, to give it my all.

“About Lomachenko,” he added, “I can say that he is a boxer with a lot of accomplishments as an amateur and even though he became champion in just a few professional fights, it isn't the same in amateur as in professional boxing and we are working hard to take the victory on June 11.”

Lomachenko (5-1, 3 KOs) might not have a lengthy resume in the professional ranks but he was one of the greatest amateur boxers to ever lace up a pair of gloves. The Ukrainian captured two gold medals in the Olympics and though he lost to Salido via split decision for the WBO featherweight title in March 2014 in his second pro fight, Lomachenko rebounded with a terrific win over Gary Russell Jr. three months later. Lomachenko edged the American with a majority decision to take the WBO 126-pound strap, which had become vacant at the time.

“It is a big opportunity for me,” Lomachenko said. “It is a chance to set a new record by becoming a two-division world champion in the shortest period - my seventh professional fight - a record that currently stands at eight fights. On June 11, at Madison Square Garden, I'm going to do my best to reach a new career pinnacle.”

Verdejo (21-0, 14 KOs) is one of the most highly-touted young fighters in the sport, a man many are predicting to eventually become the next Felix Trinidad or Miguel Cotto. Already a superstar in his native Puerto Rico, “El Diamante” is pumped for his fight with Juan Jose Martinez.

“I'm more motivated than ever for this fight on HBO and performing in front of my people in New York,” said Verdejo. “I recognize that my focus for my last couple of fights hasn't been at its best. I feel that my last performances haven't been close to what has been expected of me and that has motivated me to show my supporters that the Felix Verdejo they have been rooting for will be at The Garden on June 11 and for a very long time after.”

The non-televised undercard is slated to be headlined by the U.S. debut of two-time Olympic gold medalist and three-time World Amateur Champion Zou Shiming (7-1, 2 KOs) in a 10-round flyweight bout against an opponent yet to be determined.