Fernando Martinez and Jade Bornea were having a competitive fight and then it happened.
Martinez launched a left hook that detonated Bornea's right ear during the ninth round, dramatically changing the bout en route to an 11th-round TKO victory for Martinez to retain his IBF super flyweight world title at the Armory in Minneapolis, on Saturday night.
The shot caused blood to splatter from Bornea's ear onto Showtime's cameras, adding to the drama in what was a shocking moment.
During the 10th round, Martinez continued to pressure Bornea whose equilibrium might have been thrown off as the referee took a closer look.
In between rounds, the ref checked on Bornea's bloody and badly damaged ear before stopping the fight 29 seconds into the 11th, securing Martinez's second title defense.