SkySports
Munroe passes Armenian test
Leicester southpaw retains European title but needs to battle through
Last updated: 5th September 2008
Rendall Munroe retained his European super bantamweight title with a
tough points verdict over battling Armenian Arsen Martirosyan in
Nottingham.
The boxing binman had to first of all survive and high-pressure start
from the challenger to them take control later in the fight and he
looked to have his man on the verge by the seventh round.
Munroe could not finish his teak-tough opponent though and in the end
had to settle for a unanimous points decision with the judges scoring
it 115-113, 117-112, and 115-114.
The French-based Armenian was a total unknown quantity going into the
fight and Munroe was a 33-1 on shot with the bookies, but he could not
have expected the start he faced.
Small but stocky, Martirosyan came marching forward immediately from
the opening bell and set a frighteningly high tempo to swarm all over
the champion.
Chin
Munroe was caught a few times and his chin was tested out as the
Leicester southpaw could not get the space he wanted to operate in as
Martirosyan set a relentless pace.
It took six rounds for Munroe to settle and by the seventh he had it
all his way as the challenger started blowing hard and the champion
sent his man reeling across the ring with some hurtful body shots.
In the eighth round it looked all over as Munroe sent in 35 punches
landed to Martirosyan’s two, but somehow despite using the ropes to
stay up he stayed in the fight.
Munroe could not finish the job and despite having it all his way from
then on he could not find the clean shots to take out the challenger.
The fight was a good learning curve for the European champion though
and his points win ensured he retained his title and can move on.
"It was a hard fight because we knew nothing about him so I took it as
it came," Munroe told Sky Sports.
"I went out and enjoyed myself and feel like I’ve moved up another
step.
"I’ve got a good team behind me and I was determined so I had to turn
my game up a bit tonight."