Argentina is an inevitable country when looking at the history of boxing. In the Olympic Games and with extreme professionalism, rings the world has seen spectacular consecrations of national boxers in various categories. But this present is one of lean and cows the country hardly enjoys a man who is a world champion. Wow then if you did Fernando Martinez the responsibility of defending his super fly title International Boxing Federation (IBF) in the United States. And it became greatPumawhen he beats by points, with a unanimous decision, the Filipino Jerwin Ancajasfrom which he had snatched that crown last February.
If that time he had dethroned the Asian in Las Vegas with the cards 118-110, 118-110 and 117-111, Saturday night the victory of the undefeated 31-year-old from Buenos Aires at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson was wider: 118- 110 (Tiffany Clinton), 119-109 (Ellis Johnson) and 118-110 (Zachary Young).
“I want to fight the great champions and unify the titles. I want to make history. Everyone be very careful because here there is a Puma roaring, “roared Martínez with all his adrenaline in the American ring.
The 115-pound monarch’s message, which had a record of 15 wins, including eight knockouts, with no draws or losses, had multiple recipients. First of all the three champions of the other main categories of world boxing: the Japanese kazuto ioka (WBO), owner of a record of 29-2-0 (15 KOs), and the Americans Jesse Rodriguez (WBC; undefeated in 17 fights, with 11 knockouts) e Joshua Franco (WBA), with a record of 18-1-2-1 (8 KOs).
Of course, also Martínez’s words about another fight “spicyCan be understood as directed at two other heavyweight rivals: the Mexican Juan Francisco Estrada Romero (43-3-0; 28 KOs) and the Nicaraguan Romano Gonzalez (51-3-0; 41 KOs), who will fight on December 3, in Glendale.
Big lights can blind you. They have already done it with boxers from many countries, with life stories that are difficult, when not suffered, and that can be overwhelmed when the moment of triumph arrives. From “friends of the champion”. But “PumaMartínez is very clear about his goal, beyond his career.
“I keep fighting it so I can buy my mom’s house and carry it on with a couple more defenses. I am in a small weight and the pay is not very good “, clarified the Argentine, professional since 2017 and representative of Argentina at the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Olympics, who gave Ancajas his third defeat, to stay with a record of 33-3 -2 (22 KOs).
“He’s a great rival, a great champion. We knew each other and it would have been a terrible fight,” acknowledged Martínez in the ring, where he was hugged by his promoter, the former world champion. Marco Maidana “Chinese”..
“Defending the title is more difficult than winning it for the first time. Now we go for all the champions of the category “, the”Puma”, The Boca fan who thanked the Volunteer Fire Brigade of that neighborhood for their support as a venue during his preparation made close to his loved ones and who also had the Dock Sud Renunciation club as a stage.
He had trained so well that his team hired two combat foreigners – the Venezuelan Michelle Banquez and the Puerto Rican carlo caraballo– and, according to his coach Rodrigo CalabreseThey had “a plan A, a plan B and even a plan C for a tough fight”.
Fernando’s story is a story of suffering, resilience, struggle and final smiles, not without previous suffering. Like the loss of his cousin Sebastian. The “Puma“Sure.” For joking with a girl he didn’t have to mess with, they killed him. He was older, but we looked a lot alike, so the nickname stuck with me even before I started boxing. He dreamed of being a champion. , so now I will make his and the whole family’s dream come true, ”he said Clarione in February, before being champion in Las Vegas.
Calabrese met him 16 years ago, he has been training him for 7 years and brings out the record like no other. “rodry He is more than a coach, he is like another brother. He is always with me, he is a great support and tries to get me out of all problems so that I am calm to train. We are a team, ”Martínez later declared.
Abel Martínez, Fernando’s father, placed his trust in Calabrese. “Take care of him because he will be world champion,” he asked in 2014, a week before he died. That shot, which came when the Puma He was part of the Argentine national team and had the Rio de Janeiro 2016 Pre-Olympic in his sights, he was one step away from snatching him from sport.
“When my old man died, I didn’t want to have anything to do with life. I fell very low. I wanted to throw everything in hell because it was very bad. It was he who had always supported me, corrected me, accompanied me », she recalled in February.
How did it go on? “Thanks to Rodrigo, my mother and my uncle, who talked to me a lot and told me I had a future. I realized this couldn’t eat my life. I couldn’t let my old man see me like that. ” He went to the bone. Because I feel that he is still with me. When I argue, I always dream about it a few days before. I always felt that I had to make him proud by doing what I like and am passionate about ”.
Abel, Silvia and their 12 children, including Fernando, lived in an apartment on Olavarría street, two blocks from La Bombonera, until they were evicted when the “Puma”He was 14 and they moved to Avellaneda. Boxing fans, their parents made pizza and watched boxing matches as a family. Mike Tyson among the heavy “I looked at the audience, I saw Tyson come out, all in black and with a killer face. That preview was very exciting. And then a hand and boom! It was all over. I wanted to be like himHe acknowledged.
Fernando said it was December 18, 2002 when he started boxing, something he wanted even more. His father entered United Circle Pompeii and asked her if she could take her 11-year-old son. The next day the boy bought a botinero in Constitución and with a towel, a T-shirt and a pair of shorts he went to train in the afternoon. It has never stopped.
So the time passed, the quarrels passed and one day, last February, he became him the fifth Argentine to become world champion in Las Vegas, the city of sin and boxing in full swing. They had already done so Hugo Rafael Soto in 1998, Marco Maidana in 2011 and Luca Mattysse Y Sergio “marvels” Martinez in 2012.
Now he “Pumareconfirmed his present in his first defense of the IBF super flyweight world title and continues his dream of improving his mother’s quality of life. To the pillar that stood by her side. And Fernando Martínez, who for some time had not known the obstacles, goes towards the future.
Source: Clarin
