Photos: Rolando Romero Beats Jackson Marinez With Controversial Decision

Mohegan Sun, CT – For the interim-WBA lightweight title, a battle of unbeatens saw Rolando Romero (12-0, 10 KOs) win a controversial twelve round unanimous decision over Jackson Marinez (19-1, 7 KOs). (photos by Amanda Westcott)

The scores were 115-113, 116-112 and 118-110. There were many who felt Marinez had done enough to win.

Very close first round, with Romero punching hard and Marinez doing his boxing. More of the same in the second, with Marinez boxing and Romero rushing in with big shots. Marinez continued to give Romero fits with his boxing ability.

Marinez’s jab, counter-punching and control of the distance was giving Romero fits in the third and fourth. The fifth was close and could have gone either way.  The sixth was another close round with the power of Marinez against Romero’s power. Marinez had the edge in the seventh with his boxing.

Marinez stood his ground more in the eight, as he was outboxing Romero. There was a clash of heads in the ninth to open up a cut on Romero’s left eye. More of Marinez outboxing Romero during the tenth. In the eleventh, Romero was pushing the pace and there was a sense of urgency to do something big as Marinez continued to box. In the twelfth, they started off trading punches, with close action that saw moments of success for both.