Q&A: Raul Martinez!

January 17, 2008

By Jose Reyes

Hot up and coming WBA # 9, WBC # 13 flyweight prospect Raul “Cobrita” Martinez, 20-0 (13 KOs) of San Antonio,Texas will be taking on the veteran African warrior Alex “Ali” Baba, 26-11-1 (19 KOs) of Acra, Ghana on Friday's Telefutura ”Solo Boxeo” broadcast. The eight round super flyweight bout will be held at the Jacob Brown Auditorium in Brownsville,Texas where the quick handed Martinez, who is now promoted by Top Rank, looks to keep his unbeaten streak going and with it take his fight game to the next level.

Martinez, a two time U.S. National Amateur Champion and 2004 Olympic Team quarterfinalist, along with his manager Lou Mesorana talked to Fightnews about what the year 2008 may hold in store for “La Cobrita”.


Raul you got a fight coming up against a cagey veteran prize fighter in Alex “Ali” Baba, talk to us about your fight.

Alex is a tough veteran. Growing up before I started boxing I used to watch him fight on television with my dad, and I could see he was a tough boxer with skills. Now, I know he is getting older and I am a prospect in my weight class. To fight a good veteran like this is always a good step up as well as a test. I have a lot of respect for him, but I’m going in there to win and he is in the way of me fulfilling my dream of becoming a world champion. I have been training real hard for this fight, I was in San Antonio for a couple of weeks with Arturo Ramos getting my strength and conditioning. Then I went to Austin, Texas with my number one trainer Flaco (Fernando Castrejon). I was feeling very good coming up there, from the two weeks in San Antonio. When I got to Austin it was just for Flaco to touch me up and get me to the next level in training camp. I sparred with Jesus Chavez and the other guys in the gym, so that helped me even more. My confidence is up and I am ready to get back there in the ring.

Raul, what would you say 2008 will bring?

Just staying busy, get this fight which is a good one for me and then hopefully a fight again in late February. There are a couple of more dates that they have talked about that they have for me and if everything goes good, pretty much staying busy and keep winning and by the end of the year be in contention for a mandatory fight or a world title fight. Whatever comes up I will be ready by then.

You are within the most skilled divisions in boxing which are the lighter weights. What champion or who is out there that you have the outmost respect for and you look up to fight against?

The thing about flyweights, fuper-flyweights and bantamweights is that we don’t get a lot of recognition like welterweights and the heavier weights but you know very well that there is a lot of skill and talent down here. So, to answer your question there are many fighters that I respect in and around my division. Pretty much any world champion or title holder, whether it be the NABF or whatever. If you are a champion in my weight class I have a lot of respect for you. There is a lot of real fighters out there like Nonito Donaire (IBF champ) there is Naito (WBC champ) from Japan, Sakata (WBA champ) from Japan and Omar Narvaez (WBO Champ) from Argentina. Those are the top world champions in the 112 weight class and then stepping up to the 115 there is Christian Mijares which right now I believe is the guy to beat, after he beat Arce. Then you have Montiel and El Gallito Castillo. You’ve got so much talent in these weight classes that you have to respect everyone that owns a championship belt. My job is to polish up my skills and get up to that level.

Talk to us about the transition from being released by Main Events and now signing with Top Rank.

While I was with Main Events their goal was for me to fight at bantamweight and I feel that I am not a bantamweight yet at this moment, it wouldn’t be up until maybe a year or two till I become a bantamweight. They wanted me to be one right now, so that’s when I was offered my release and got lucky to sign with Top Rank. They were willing to work with me. My inactivity was also a drawback. Now with Top Rank, there are lots of fights that are scheduled for me and my motivation is at an all time high. I feel like it’s a brand new start for me and can see that there are better things to come for me in the future. I am really looking forward to fighting in the Valley and I will be on television with Telefutura so my fans in San Antonio can also watch me as well. It motivates me tremendously to fight and demonstrate my skills to the raza and show who “La Cobrita” really is.

What Cobrita Martinez will we see come Friday night?

I think they are going to see an intelligent, smart Cobrita that has 20 fights. I am getting the experience in and out of the ring. Sparring with Jesus “El Matador” Chavez, he talks to me and gives me tips that I need to know and learn for myself. So getting into the ring, I see myself working the basics using my jab and putting it all together and putting on a show that night.

What would the “Cobrita” Martinez like to say to his fans through Fightnews in closing?

I would like to tell my fans and I know that everybody says this, that it’s a new year that this is going to be my year, but I feel that this year and starting it with a new promoter it brings a new beginning for me. I’m happy, I’m motivated. This year I’m going to work twice as hard as I have ever done before. This is going to be another step up to work even harder, and hoping that big things happen for me this year.

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Lou Mesorana (Raul Martinez' Manager)

I think this is a good fight for Raul, “Ali” Baba will give him some rounds and good work. Alex Baba is a guy that makes you work and I think this is a real good comeback fight for Raul who hasn’t fought since July, so he needs rounds and I think this is the perfect guy. I’m glad that Mr. Bob Arum accepted and I think Raul will be ready come January 18th. Who knows what’s after that, were hoping to, you know, get bigger and better fights in 2008.

Raul was formerly with Main Events and he has now since been released got picked up and signed by Top Rank. Talk to us about it Lou.

Well, you know, we didn’t see eye to eye on Raul’s weight. They wanted a bantamweight and we tried but he just couldn’t do it. As of now he is not a bantamweight but eventually I think we will grow into a bantamweight but you know, it takes time for him to grow into it and not be forced into it.

Rumor had it that Main Events had a big fight proposal for Raul to fight against Johnny Gonzalez at one time this past year. Can you discuss why it didn’t happen?

We were told that he was to fight on HBO against Johnny Gonzalez, but you know the guy is coming down from 122 and Raul is moving up from 112. It doesn’t make sense, because, 1) of the size, and 2) the experience level of the guy. Johnny Gonzalez has been there, done that. Raul is trying to get to where he is, and the only way Raul can get there is by getting the experience and he isn’t going to get there by getting his butt beat.

Raul has got the tools to become a world champion and there are many good ones out there right now he could fight next. Names like Nonito Donaire, Christian Mijarez, Martin Castillo and Fernando Montiel to name a few. Any of them on the horizon in the near future that you might put him in against?

Oh yeah, I hate to say it because Alex Baba is a really good fighter when you use one fighter, but we all know that this is a fight that Raul needs right now. Of course we are going to look at those names in the coming year. I don’t want to rush Raul into anything, I want for Raul to have a few fights at this level and then time will tell. Because like you said Raul has got all the tools.

Raul is fighting in the Rio Grande Valley which has been clamoring to get him down there to see him in a live fight. What are your thoughts on that?

I think Raul is excited and very happy to be fighting in South Texas. His good friend Roberto ”La Amenaza” Garcia is from there so we are well acquainted with the Valley even though he has never fought there before so he is looking forward to it. I think it could be his second home when it comes to fighting or maybe his first home. We are looking to have more fights in the future down there.