Welterweight prospect Saul Bustos of Los Angeles secured another victory Saturday night, defeating Martin Angel Martinez at the Derby Room in Pomona, California.

All three judges scored the bout 80-72 in favor of Bustos, who improves to 15-0-1, 8 knockouts. 

Martinez was game, but Bustos was the more-effective throughout much of the fight. Bustos consistently outlanded Martinez, connecting with two or three-punch combinations to the head and body. 

For the Martinez fight, Bustos donned yellow and blue trunks, Ukraine’s national colors, in support of the country. After the fight, Bustos donated his entire purse to families in Ukraine affected by the current conflict against Russia. The donation was made via Oleksandr Usyk and Egis Klimas, who manages Vasiliy Lomachenko. Both Usyk and Lomachenko, including Kiyv mayor and former WBC heavyweight titleholder Vitaliy Klitschko are currently on the frontlines during the conflict.

Roger Ruiz, who manages Bustos, has been impressed by the development of the 28-year-old.

“Saul is a very talented fighter who, under the tutelage of (trainer) Freddie Roach, is developing into a serious welterweight contender,” Ruiz told BoxingScene Sunday night. “We are ready to step up and take on some serious opposition and show the world what we see on a daily (basis) with this young lion.

“When I mentioned to Freddie about the donation, he told me he would not charge his trainer fees from Saturday night and to instead donate that amount with Saul’s donation. Freddy and his team at Wild Card (Gym in Hollywood, California) are awesome.”

Martinez, who resides in Empalme, Mexico, drops to 21-20-1, 14 KOs. He has now lost eight of his last 11 bouts.

In the main event of the MarvNation card, heavyweight prospect Trent Rawlins overcame a knockdown to defeat former world cruiserweight title challenger Santander Silgado by majority decision.

One judge scored the bout 56-56, while the other two judges scored the bout 58-54 in favor of Rawlins, who improves to 13-2-1, 10 KOs. 

Rawlins dropped Silgado with a two-punch combination within the opening minute of the first round. In the final moments of the second round, Silgado dropped the Australia-born fighter with a left hook to the head. 

Silgado attempted to mix his attack as Rawlins was consistent in landing lead or counter left-right combinations to the head during the second half of the fight.

The 36-year-old Silgado, who is originally from Arboletes, Colombia and now resides in Panama City, Panama, drops to 30-11, 24 KOs. The 38-year-old has now lost seven of his last nine bouts.

In the co-feature, featherweight Ashton Sylve of nearby Long Beach improved to 7-0, 7 KOs by stopping Brazil’s Aldimar Silva (22-19, 14 KOs) at 32 seconds of round 2. 

Welterweight Mylik Birdsong of South Central Los Angeles defeated journeyman Daniel Perales Osorio (12-22-2, 6 KOs) by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 58-55 for Birdsong, who improves to 13-0-1, 9 KOs.

Perales of Monterrey, Mexico scored a knockdown about a minute left in round 1 when an overhand right sent Birdsong staggering across the ring. Referee Gerard White correctly administered an eight-count as the ropes kept Birdsong on his feet. 

Birdsong utilized his speed and ring generalship during the last two rounds, but Perales continued being the aggressor and connecting with hooks and crosses to the head. 

Super middleweight Raul Salomon (9-1, 8 KOs) of Los Angeles rebounded from suffering the first loss of his pro career on November 26 by defeating Colorado Springs’ Jeremy Ramos (11-12, 4 KOs) over 6 one-sided rounds. Scores were 59-55, 59-55, and 60-54 for Salomon.

Also in super middleweight action, Lawrence King defeated Argentina’s Abel Nicolas Adriel (25-23-3, 5 KOs) by unanimous decision. All three judges scored the bout 60-54 in favor of King, who resides in nearby San Bernardino and improves to 11-1, 9 KOs.

Francisco A. Salazar has written for BoxingScene since September 2012 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing