By Eric Armit
Another show of devastating power from Davis as he hunts down and knocks out Martin in the eighth round.
Round 1
Martin was backing around the ring with Davis coming forward behind the usual high guard. Martin was throwing jabs and tried a could of body shots. They traded right jabs and Martin stepped in quickly with a couple of scoring punches. Davis was short with his jabs but connected with a right. Martin pierced the guard of Davis with a straight left.
Score: 10-9 Martin
Round 2
Martin was still on the back foot then darting in with a quick flurry of punches. Davis was waiting for a clear scoring opportunity and only throwing a few jabs. Martin was using slick footwork to avoid being pinned against the ropes. Davis connected with a left to the body but Martin landed two straight lefts.
Score: 10-9 Martin (Martin 20-18)
Round 3
Martin was circling the perimeter of the ring with Davis shadowing him. Davis landed a right but Martin skipped away. Davis was now firing lead lefts rather than right jabs but Marin scored with a straight left and managed to dodge the punches from Davis and sneaked home a jab.
Score: 10-9 Martin (Martin 30-27)
Round 4
Davis came out quickly, putting pressure on Martin who was jabbing well and retreating. Davis was doing a good job of chasing down Martin and landed a solid left to the body in a low-scoring round, which Davis just took.
Score: 10-9 Davis (Martin 39-37)
Round 5
Davis continued his hunt but Martin was proving a difficult target as he sped away from Davis and scored with right jabs. Martin kept spearing Davis with punches. Davis managed to corner Martin and scored with a hard straight right before Martin broke free.
Martin just kept moving and jabbing and sliding away along the ropes and connected with a left jab and a left to the head with Davis unable to land anything heavy. He was a step short but getting closer.
Score: 10-9 Martin (Martin 49-46)
Round 6
Martin started the round with a burst of punches but then was forced on the retreat. Davis was able to pen him in the corner and land a couple of shots. Martin was having trouble sliding away and Davis was able to get through with hefty lefts to the head.
Score: 10-9 Davis (Martin 58-56)
Round 7
A left to the body and a right to the head from Davis knocked Martin off balance and he then followed Martin and landed a couple more punches. Martin threw some jabs but was soon against the ropes and Davis banged home rights and lefts forcing Martin along the ropes as he clubbed him with punches.
Score: 10-9 Davis (Martin 67-66)
Round 8
Martin tried to hold Davis off with jabs but Davis was walking through them. A series of chopping rights had Martin in trouble in the corner a left and a right set him up for a crushing left to the head that sent him crashing to the canvas on his back and he was counted out.
Eric’s Analysis
First fight for 14 months and now 28 wins by KO/TKO for Davis, who was making the first defence of the full WBA title, which he inherited when Devin Haney relinquished it. Davis vs. WBC champion Shakur Stevenson or IBF champion Vasyl Lomachenko would be great fights. Martin just could not keep Davis out and as Joe Louis opined, “They can run, but they can’t hide.”
