Tiara Brown continues to fight while awaiting to face those in the upper echelon in the featherweight division.

Brown remained unbeaten Friday night, defeating Liliana Martinez by majority decision at the Club Mauricio Baez in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic. 

One judge scored the bout 76-76, while the other two judges scored the contest 78-74 and 77-75 for Brown, who improved to 15-0, 10 knockouts.

Martinez initiated exchanges between the two, as she worked from distance, connecting with left-right combinations or right hands to the head of Brown. Undaunted, Brown measured her punches, but as the fight progressed, Brown was able to consistently connect with right hands behind a jab. 

By the midway point of the fight, Martinez’s punch output dropped, likely from exerting so much energy early on in the fight. Brown also began connecting with her own series of hooks and crosses, at times snapping Martinez’s head back. 

Brown began walking down Martinez, who spent more time holding and grappling in the sixth round. Martinez also found herself fighting off her back foot.

During the final two rounds, Martinez looked exhausted. Brown sensed Martinez’s exhaustion and increased her aggression and punch output, but was not able to score a knockdown.

The 35-year-old had won her previous four fights by knockout, including her last bout on February 10, a third round stoppage over Grecia Novas Mateo.

The 39-year-old Martinez, who resides in Santo Domingo, falls to 24-19, 15 KOs. Martinez had won her previous three fights. 

In the main event of the Shuan Boxing card, featherweight Vivian Rodriguez defeated fringe contender Dyana Vargas by unanimous decision. 

All three judges scored the bout 80-72 in favor of Rodriguez, who improved to 4-0, 2 KOs. 

Vargas drops to 16-1, 10 KOs. 

Former world junior bantamweight title challenger Norbelto Jimenez of Villa Duarte, Dominican Republic won by technical knockout after Gilbert Gonzalez was not able to continue after suffering an injury to his right hand.

Jimenez improved to 32-10-6, 17 KOs.

The shorter Gonzalez, but Jimenez was the more-effective fighter, varying his offense from left-right combinations to connecting right uppercuts to the head. 

Late in the second round, Gonzalez landed a punch to the top of Jimenez’s head. After a delayed reaction, Gonzalez dropped to the canvas, wincing in pain and motioning to his right hand. After the ringside physician tended to Gonzalez, the fight was stopped at 2:43.

Jimenez had not fought since October 16, losing a unanimous decision to Andrew Moloney. The 32-year-old was unbeaten in his previous four bouts, including a draw against Donnie Nietes, since losing to then-WBA junior bantamweight titleholder Khalid Yafai in June 2019.

Gonzalez, who resides in Caracas, Venezuela, falls to 18-6-1, 13 KOs. The 24-year-old has lost his last three bouts. 

In lightweight action, Jose Aguirre broke down gatekeeper Tomas Mendez, forcing Mendez to remain on his stool after the sixth round.

Aguirre, who resides in Arecibo, Puerto Rico, improved to 19-0, 12 KOs.

The 34-year-old Aguirre landed the more-effective and harder punches. Mendez had his moments, but was at times overwhelmed by Aguirre’s punch volume and power. 

After the end of the sixth round, Mendez complained he had difficulties seeing from his right eye. The amount of punches Aguirre connected caused bruising around Mendez’s eye.

Aguirre previously fought on February 24, defeating Otto Gamez by unanimous decision. He fought five times in 2022, notching four knockouts amongst the five victories.

Mendez, who resides in Santo Domingo, falls to 25-15, 17 KOs. The 38-year-old has lost seven of his last nine bouts. 

Junior middleweight Claribel Mena of the Dominican Republic improved to 11-1, 7 KOs, stopping Colombia’s Paulina Cardona (25-30-7, 11 KOs) in the first round. 

Featherweight Jan Paul Rivera (7-0, 5 KOs) of Salinas, Puerto Rico won by knockout after the third round after Anyelo Munoz (18-27, 11 KOs) of the Dominican Republic remained on his stool.

Bantamweight Erik Pabon of Salinas, Puerto Rico improved to 6-1, 5 KOs, winning by knockout after Santo Domingo’s Gabriel Marte (3-6, 2 KOs) did not answer the bell for round 5.

In a junior flyweight clash, Jedrier Reyes of Ponce, Puerto Rico knocked out Alvaro Jimenez (0-3) of the Dominican Republic at 2:53 of the opening round. Reyes, who resides in Ponce, Puerto Rico, improved to 6-0, 3 KOs. 

In the opening bout of the Shuan Boxing card, featherweight Carlos Bonilla improved to 6-0-1, 3 KOs, dropping journeyman Jael Made (6-12, 5 KOs) twice in the third round, forcing Made to not come out for the fourth round. Both Bonilla and Made reside in Santo Domingo. 

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