Martinez decisions Concepcion

LAS VEGAS – Bernabe Concepcion dug himself a deeper hole when he took a stunning loss to Juan Carlos Martinez.

It wasn’t supposed to happen because Concepcion, after losing two of his last three fights, was pitted against someone who has lost seven of his last 10.

But it happened Friday evening at the Mandalay Bay when the 23-year-old Bicolano dropped a split decision and fell to 28-5-1 with 15 knockouts.

Martinez, 29, who has won 19 and lost 12 fights since turning pro in 2003, and loves to put on a string of losses, got off to a good start.

He moved better inside the ring, and looked sharper, leaving Concepcion desperate most of the time.

At the end of their eight-round featherweight contest, two judges scored it 78-74 and 77-75 in favor of Martinez, and one had it in favor of Concepcion, 77-75.

Not even Freddie Roach, who manned Concepcion’s corner, could push him to victory.

Saving the day for the Filipinos at Mandalay Bay was super-flyweight Marlon Tapales who outfought Alejandro Solorio in six rounds.