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Mike CoppingerESPN
NEW YORK — Teofimo Lopez suffered a flash knockdown in Round 2 but picked up a controversial 10-round split-decision victory over Sandor Martin in their junior welterweight bout Saturday night at Madison Square Garden.
One judge scored it 95-94 for Martin, but was overruled by scores of 96-93 and 97-92 for Lopez.
“You were running the whole time,” Lopez told Martin afterward. “Every time you landed that counter, I hit you. That’s why you were running. That was a boring-ass fight. I can’t believe it. I need a better dance partner. … You were dancing and running.”
Martin, who was cut over the bridge of his nose in the opening round following a clash of heads, accused Lopez of head-butting. The Spaniard’s nose was grotesquely swollen.
“It’s hard to fight somebody like this when they’re running the whole time,” Lopez said. “.. I was countering and tagging him. … I felt great overall. … Now these guys will want to fight me so this is great.”