Juan Carlos Burgos isn’t claiming he won the fight but will vehemently argue that he did far more than for which the judges gave him credit.

The former three-time title challenger saw his stock soar in defeat after a hard-fought 10-round unanimous decision win over undefeated junior lightweight prospect Xavier Martinez. Burgos was a late replacement for countryman Abraham Montoya, taking the fight on two weeks’ notice and delivering a memorable performance Saturday evening at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California.

The three judges—Don Deverges, Rudy Barragan and Dr. Lou Moret—all felt otherwise, each scoring the contest 99-91 in favor of Martinez. Burgos (34-5-2, 21KOs) claimed only round four on all three scorecards.

“I was shocked. I was surprised. I did not think I only won one round,” Burgos insisted during a post-fight press conference for their Showtime-televised contest. “The public opinion and the fact that the fans were booing is what I take with me today.

The 10-round affair was entertaining and with few lulls, perfectly in line with the storied reputation of the venue which has produced many boxing wars through the years. The scorecards ruined the moment for fans, who vehemently booed Martinez throughout his post-fight interview.

“The fans spoke louder than the cards,” noted Burgos, a second-generation boxer from Tijuana. “I am glad to have given them an exciting fight.”

While Martinez (17-0, 11KOs) will be groomed for a title shot at some point in 2021, Burgos now has to contend with his third loss in four fights. Still, the veteran contender can hold his head proud and likely expect his phone to ring for another major opportunity in the not-too-distant future.

“I am happy and excited to put on a good show,” noted Burgos. All in all, I am just glad that the fans enjoyed the fight.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox