Cordillera’s “Wonder Boy” Carl Jammes Martin will defend his Philippine Boxing Federation bantamweight title in Mandaluyong City on Feb. 22.
Martin, who holds a clean record of 15 wins, will go head-to-head with the more experienced Renoel Pael of Matalom, Leyte, who has 23 wins, 11 losses, and one draw under his belt.
The 20-year-old boxing prodigy will defend his unblemished 15 winning record, 14 by way of knockouts, including his recent bout against Philip Luis Cuerdo in December last year where he floored the latter in the third round forcing his corner to stop the fight at the Manila Arena.
In Sept. 20, Martin won the vacant PBF bantamweight title against Benezer Alolod also through knockout on the seventh round of their fight in Mandaluyong City.
Pael, meanwhile, will try to redeem himself from his three-game losing streak in all his 2019 bouts against Japanese fighters Ryusei Kawaura via unanimous decision and Tatsuya Takahashi via split decision in the latter’s homeland. He also lost the Philippine Games and Amusement Board bantam title against Giovanni Escaner via split decision.
The 29-year-old Pael’s record also boasts of out of the country fights mostly in Japan and Australia, unlike Martin who is yet to step out of the motherland for his bouts and faced his foreign opponents in the country.
It will be interesting to watch Martin, who is hailed by boxing fans as the next Manny Pacquiao and even having a southpaw stance like his ring idol, be pitted against the orthodox boxer Pael during the fight night organized by Ifugao Amateur and Professional Boxing Promotion and Shock Punch Promotion.
Other bouts will be lined up during the event also backed by Mandaluyong City government and Buhay Kamao Foundation and will happen at the Mandaluyong High School gymnasium. – Ofelia C. Empian
April 20, 2024
