With a successful first title defense and a new friend whom he soundly beat last Saturday in San Lazaro, Manila, the Wonderboy from Hingyon, Ifugao, Carl Jammes Martin is set to step in the bigger ring.
Martin was the top dog in the 12-round encounter with a Tanzanian by the name of Charles Tondo, whom he beat almost to the pulp, in his first title defense aptly called Battle of Manila as he now eyes a “dream fight” against the unbeaten super bantamweight boxer Sam Goodman of Australia.
Martin was already under the radar of the 23-year old, who shared pizza with his new found friend from Tanzania, as he told Probellum that “I’m not afraid of anyone and that includes fighting boxers within our stable,…”.
The 20-0, 16 knockout toting Martin hopes that the win against Tondo paved the way for a duel with the 12-0 Goodman in the near future.
Last Saturday’s win was a follow up to his March 11th round KO win over Ronnie Baldonado, his debut with Probellum Promotions which also promotes Lee McGregor, Shabaz Mosoud and Jake Bateson, all rated under the World Boxing Association.
The young Filipino boxer, however, has his eyes on Goodman.
“In all honesty, I think all of us Probellum fighters owe it to our company. I’d rather see all of us grow with Probellum by sending a notice to the world that the best boxers are with Probellum,” Martin was quoted as saying in national dailies before the Tondo fight.
But for now, Martin will try to enjoy his hard earned win over Tondo, who refused to wilt under his punishment, with a pizza he shared at the latter’s hotel last Sunday, a picture with the boxer he shared on his Facebook page.
“And our pizza has pushed through. It’s so happy when you have a new friend,”Martin’s caption of the photo stated.
Earlier he said, “Sa taas ng ring lang magkalaban, friends kami sa labas ng ring. Bisitahin ko siya (Inside the ring, we are foes, but outside the ring we are friends. I’ll go visit him).” Pigeon Lobien
