Mexican lightweight Acosta extends unbeaten boxing record with win in Toronto

TORONTO — Mexican lightweight Bryan Acosta extended his unbeaten record as a pro with a sixth-round knockout of Spain's Jon Martinez on Wednesday.

Acosta (18-0-0 with six knockouts) felled Martinez with a flurry of blows and the bloodied Spaniard, shaking his head, did not beat the count. The fight was stopped 59 seconds into the round.

The 34-year-old Martinez (12-7-5) saw his six-fight win streak snapped.

It was the third straight fight in Toronto for the 24-year-old Acosta, who is affiliated with local promoter Lee Baxter. Acosta won the vacant WBC Continental Americas featherweight title in May when he stopped fellow Mexican Benito Sanchez Garcia in the 10th round.

In the co-main event Wednesday, former Canadian amateur champion Joshuah Lupia won a unanimous six-round decision over Mexican welterweight Jesus Solis Reyes (3-1-0).

Lupia (7-0-0) returned to action in July after a lengthy layoff needed to recover from injuries sustained in October 2020 when he and three others were shot outside of a club in his hometown of Niagara Falls, Ont.

Lupia came out strong in the fourth with the Mexican taking a standing eight-count late in the round after absorbing a left to the body.

In the main event that followed, Acosta came forward in the first round and was the busier fighter. It was more of the same in the second with Acosta scoring with body shots. Martinez went down and was given a standing eight-count by referee Donovan Boucher late in the second round with the Spaniard protesting it was merely a slip.

Acosta continued to attack, firing his jab. Martinez had some success in the fourth but Acosta continued to land with regularity.

The two traded blows in the fifth in the centre of the ring before Acosta resumed stalking his prey.

Acosta is trained by Jose Alfredo Caballero, whose roster has included WBC champions Juan Francisco Estrada, Miguel Berchelt and Yamileth Mercado. He weighed in at 132 pounds.

The native of Hermosillo, Mexico, won his Canadian debut in March with a unanimous decision over Mexican Lamberto Macias.

Acosta started boxing at 10 or 11, compiling an amateur record of 117-7, and turned pro at 17.

Also Wednesday, Toronto super-welterweight Adrian Bembridge (7-0-0) battered Mexico's Christian Sanchez Calderon (3-3-3) until the referee stepped in at 2:46 of the second round.

Hamilton super-lightweight Spencer Wilcox, a former four-time Canadian amateur champion, improved to 4-0-0 as a pro by stopping Mexico's Maximino Toala (15-12-1) at 2:37 of the first round. Toala, who took the fight on short notice, crumpled after a punishing left hook to the body.

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This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 14, 2022