WBA Asia Super Bantam king Martin seeks IBF – Pan Pacific strap in Trinidad fight

By Pigeon Lobien

LA TRINIDAD, Benguet – Carl Jammes Martin, the brightest Cordilleran prospect since World Boxing Association junior welterweight champion Roberto Cruz in the 1960s and bantamweight world title contender Rey Tam in the 1970s, will be fighting here for the first time after 20 fights and 20 victories.

Darwin Miller Dep-ay of the Pinoy Boxing Prodigy Promotion made the announcement this week saying the reigning WBA – Asia Super Bantamweight Champion hopes to add another belt when he fights at the Cordillera Career Development College Gymnasium on December 17.

Dep-ay said that Martin will go up against Thailand’s Komgrich Nantapech (31-5-0 KOs 22) for the International Boxing Federation Pan-Pacific Super Bantamweight Championship that will headline the 10 bout event co-presented by Highland Boxing Promotion.

“We are bringing Martin here as we also hope the best for him before he goes abroad to fight in the bigger arena,” said Highland top man Brico Santig.

Martin had been signed by Probellum, which manages Nonito Donaire, Jr. as well, in a move that could net the Lagawe, Ifugao native a lucrative fight soon.

The 23-year old Martin, who won 16 of his victories via knockout, had been under the radar of international promoters for a couple of years now but has opted yet to fight locally to improve on his skill.

Martin took the Philippine Boxing Federation bantamweight belt in May of 2019 which he defended successfully later that year.
He returned to the ring on December 18, 2020 , after the Covid-19 lockdowns, as a super bantamweight and beat Richard Rosales.

He next fought Joe Tejones on Feb. 20, 2021 at the Binan Football Stadium in Binan, Laguna and retired the latter in the fifth round after a body shot.

On Dec. 4, 2021, he unanimously decided Mark Anthony Geraldo to win the Philippine Championship crown.

With an 11th round TKO victory on Ronnie Baldonado on March 12, 2022 at the Elorde Gym in Sucat, Paranaque, Martin retained his PBF title and annexed the WBA Asia super bantamweight title.

Martin’s last fight was on July 30 at the SM San Lazaro in Manila in the Battle of Tondo where he defeated Tanzanian Charles Tondo to retain his WBA belt.

Another Ifugao will be highlighted in the Martin Trinidad fight as MJ Uduna faces Danny Tampipi in an eight round fight in the featherweight division. Uduna won last month in Sucat, Paranque.

The other fights are: Roman Canto facing Eduardo Mansito (8 rounds – 130 pounds), Romeo Tenorio versus Elmar Zamora (6 rounds – 112 lbs.), Alie Laurel fighting Jecker Buhawe (6 rounds – 126 lbs), Vincent Jorda, who won also in his debut in Sucat, Paranaque last month, will face a debuting Jhanjhan Himiwat (4 rounds – 108lbs), Ronerick Ballesteros up against Daniel Dave Egsaen in four rounds in 136 lbs for their debut, Ed Liwan opposite Joshua Navarro (4 rounds – 122 lbs), Holmes Tagart against Orlandino Sinaloba (4 rounds – 120 lbs) and Marsolo Pandian vs Roel Eyes (4 RDS – 115 lbs).

Dep-ay said that three other fighters could be included in the December 17 Martin fight with Edward Heno, “King” Arthur Villanueva and Genisis Libranza as they yet seek opponents for the three exciting fighters.

Photo from JL Martin