Undefeated boxer Carl Jammes Martin started his high-altitude training in La Trinidad, Benguet in preparation for his Dec. 17 bout against a Thai boxer for the vacant International Boxing Federation Pan Pacific super bantamweight belt.
Martin, who has 20 wins with 16 by way of knockout is set to headline the “Fight For Glory” slug fest at the Cordillera Career Development College gymnasium against Thai boxer Komgrich Nantapech, who holds 31 wins with 22 KOs and five losses.
Martin will spend two weeks in La Tri-nidad acclimatizing as his previous fights were held in warmer areas.
Coach Abel, Sr., father of 23-year-old Carl, from Lagawe, Ifugao, said they have been training in Manila where his son underwent sparring sessions to build his resistance on the ring.
He said they are now focusing on conditioning as well as cutting down eight pounds more on the younger Martin’s weight to reach the 122 pound bantamweight.
“Talagang fighter iyong kalaban niya kaya may ginagawa na kaming depensa. Dinadagdagan namin iyong hangin at resistensiya niya kasi kapag fighter kaila-ngang makadepensa at hindi ka matalo sa mga points,” Martin, Sr. said.
He said they have been studying the fight style of the 33-year-old Nantapech, and also anticipate the game plan of the latter’s camp, so they won’t be caught off guard.
The older Martin, who heads the Ifugao Boxing Stable and manages his son’s career, said it has been their long-time plan to stage a fight at their home region but previous contracts prevented them especially during the pandemic, where the younger Martin was able to engage in five bouts – one in 2020, two in 2021, and the latest bout as his third match for 2022.
Martin’s last bout in the region was staged in Lagawe in 2018, where he knocked out South Korean Moon Chul Suh in round four to win the World Boxing Association Asia bantamweight title.
Journalists interviewed the father and son at the Highland Boxing Gym in Km. 6, La Trinidad, where they conducted some of their conditioning as well as a friendly sparring session with former WBA Asia South bantamweight champion Arthur Villanueva.
The upcoming event will be the younger Martin’s 21st bout since becoming pro at the age of 16 in his 2016 debut.
The event is organized by the La Trinidad-based Highland Boxing Gym and Pinoy Boxing Prodigy, among other sponsors, who aim to bring the boxing fever back to the highlands. – Ofelia C. Empian
