Q&A: Christopher Martin

Photos: Felipe Leon

A year ago, San Diego, CA’s Christopher Martin (21-0-2, 6 KOs) found himself in Hinckley, Minnesota, ready to perform on the biggest stage of his career. Martin was tapped to be the latest fodder for hard hitting Chris Avalos on Showtime’s “ShoBox: The Next Generation”; just another opponent for Avalos to stream over, but Martin had other plans. After surviving Avalos’ early frenzied attack, Martin settled in out-boxing the highly touted prospect and upsetting the apple cart via a ten round split decision. After the win, Martin was expected to jump onto the boxing consciousness but instead found himself back at his usual haunt of Spanish language Telefutura.

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“Believe me that I wanted to go to that other level, I guess the right fights weren’t there yet,” Martin said after a tough training session at the Alliance Gym in Chula Vista, CA, home of not only Martin but of highly ranked lightweight Mercito Gesta. “Definitely after this one with Charles Huerta, I am not looking to step back but we are looking forward. Originally that was my plan after the Avalos fight but I guess it wasn’t the right time but I feel now that it is. i am more mature and more experienced.”

One would think that after derailing the Avalos bullet train Martin would not tire of the accolades thrown his way but the father of two is ready to move on, “It is what it is. I guess Showtime still replays it so people still bring it up. i don’t want to be defined just by that fight because i know there is still a future for me. That fight was just one step. One step closer to our goal which is a world championship. I am not going to say that I am tired of hearing of that fight or Chris Avalos but it is getting old and I want to make something better. Have a bigger fight to have people talk about now.”

On Friday night, Martin will once again have the opportunity to defeat a higher name on the totem pole when he faces Paramount, CA’s Charles Huerta (16-2, 9KOs) in a ten round super bantamweight clash on Telefutura’s “Solo Boxeo Tecate” from the OC Fight Club in Costa Mesa, CA. The night will be presented by Golden Boy Promotions in association with Roy Englebrecht Promotions.

In Huerta’s last fight last January in San Diego, Martin sat ringside as he the former amateur standout was defeated by Raul Hirales of La Paz, MX, in another Telefutura main event.

“I saw him flat footed, he had no energy, it might just have been an off night. That is why I said that I am training for the best Charles Huerta,” Martin said. “He had no steam on his punches and that might also be because he was wearing those Winning gloves. It made him hesitate a little bit. All in all I was there to cheer him on. I’ve got to know him and he is not a bad guy. I held a grudge for a while but not anymore. I was looking for him to win, to pull of the victory but he couldn’t do it that night.”

The grudge comes from the fact that Huerta owns the only knock down of Martin’s boxing career, “I was angry for a while, I chose to fight him. I had five amateur fights and that was my sixth. It was the first time I was going to be in the open division and I went for it anyways. It was a small set back because it was demoralizing I guess you can say. I didn’t show up to the gym for a while, about a month or two, nothing big. it made me come back stronger and when I was training I was training because I wanted to be better than him.”

Even though the full time prison guard was present for Huerta’s last loss, Martin feels that the upset will only make Huerta only that much hungry for a win.

“I expect for him to come out hard, he is coming back from a loss. Maybe a little over confident too because we fought in the amateurs and he does have a win over me,” the twenty-four year old Martin explained. “He also has the only knockdown of my career, amateur, pro, gym, ever. He knocked me down when we were seventeen. That might still be on his mind, that he can over power me but it is a different fight now. I’m training for the best Charles Huerta.”

Despite the confidence that Huerta might walk into the ring with on Friday night, it more than likely will not match the conviction that Martin hold for his skills, “Honestly I don’t want to sound over confident but I think it is everything that I have. More hand speed, better foot work, defense. Although my record doesn’t show it as far as power, I think we are going to be on the same level as far as power goes but the speed would come into play and just timing, everything. The will to win.”

The experienced Martin does admit that if there is something that he must be wary of regarding Huerta’s style is one many consider the Golden Boy promoted fighter’s best punch: the left hook.

“That left hook. Every time I have seen him fight in the pros its that left hook, he throws a hard left hook, body and head. We have been practicing on that by covering up, putting my hand up high, covering my ear,” Martin said.

With Orange County only about hundred miles north of San Diego, Martin does not feel that he is giving up the home field advantage to Huerta who hails from much more closer grounds, “No because I think it is half way. He is from Paramount, my cousin actually went to high school with him and my cousin is bringing his friends and they are coming to support me. My family is going up there and friends. A lot of people have already bought tickets to go so I think it is going to be level as far as the crowd goes.”

WIth a win this time, the WBC #10, IBF #9 ranked Martin is hoping for much bigger game as it is rumored that the contest might be for a regional title and if so, might shoot up the winner in the rankings and hopefully a shot for title in the near future even if his management team or promoter, Don Chargin in association with Jorge Marron Productions, have not promised Martin anything along those lines, “No, not yet but if it is for the NABO title which I hope it is, it ranks you among the top five so hopefully maybe a shot at Arce who just fought could be looming so hopefully I can get that opportunity.”

May 16th, 2011

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