All news tagged Boxing

After defeating his first two opponents in Mexico last year, 25-year-old Carl Jammes Martin, a warrior from Lagawe, Ifugao, is set to compete in a non-title, 10-round super bantamweight bout against Colombia’s Jose Sanmartin on March 22 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Martin dominated Anthony Jimenez Salas with a second-round technical knockout last September, followed by a fifth-round technical knockout victory over Ruben Tostado Garcia in December—both fights taking place in Mexico, where he has maintained an undefeated record of 25 wins, including 20 knockouts.

However, Sanmartin presents a greater challenge, given his experience, as reflected in his 35-9-1 record, which includes 21 knockouts.

This marks a significant opportunity for the Filipino boxer to showcase his skills in the boxing world’s most prestigious venue—Las Vegas, often regarded as a proving ground for the sport’s top prospects and future champions.

“I am so thrilled to be fighting in Las Vegas, Nevada. When I was a little boy, I grew up watching some of the greatest fighters in boxing history showcase their talents in Las Vegas. I watched many of Manny Pacquiao’s fights there, and now I’m fighting in Las Vegas. This is a dream come true,” Martin said.

Sean Gibbons, president of Manny Pacquiao’s MP Promotions, also expressed his full support for Martin’s campaign, hoping for a victorious run leading to a world title in 2025.

“This is a very exciting time in Carl’s career. Having his first fight in the United States take place in Las Vegas—where his idol, Manny Pacquiao, has fought so many times—is a dream come true,” Gibbons said.

According to Gibbons, Carl is eager to make a lasting impression next week as he continues his journey toward becoming a world champion.

“Carl is looking to impress everyone next week as he works toward his ultimate goal of winning a world title in 2025,” Gibbons added.

Nesthy Petecio and Aira Villegas, the two bronze medalists in the 2024 Paris Olympics, will be the recipients of special recognition at the 2024 San Miguel Corporation-Philippine Sportswriters Association (SMC-PSA) Awards Night, to be held on January 27 in the grand ballroom at the Manila Hotel.

Petecio and Villegas, who accounted for a pair of bronze medals during the Summer Games, will be recognized with the President’s Award by the Philippine Sportswriters Association.

Petecio emerged bronze winner in the women’s 57kg division, while Villegas secured the same medal in the 50 kg division.

The bronze was the second Olympic medal won by the 32-year-old Petecio, adding to the silver that she bagged in the 2020 edition of the Games in Tokyo. In doing so, she also became the first ever Filipino boxer to clinch back-to-back podium finishes in the quadrennial meet.

For the 29-year-old Villegas, it was a proud moment right in her Olympic debut as an underdog out of the compact five-man Philippine boxing team that competed.

Aside from the two fearless lady boxers, gymnast Carlos Yulo is going to be feted with the highest honor as 2024 Athlete of the Year, wherein he added to the two glittering gold medals that he won in securing the best ever showing for Team Philippines in a century of participation in the quadrennial Games.

According to PSA president Nelson Beltran, these Filipino athletes deserve high accolades for their own bright moments in the Paris Games, providing an extra push to the glorious Philippine performance. 

The long wait is over. 

After receiving a green light from his doctor, Joshua “The Passion” is now cleared and ready for some training and action to face him for the third time and close the book against Jarred Brooks in ONE Strawweight MMA World Championship unification at ONE 171 on February 20, 2025.

This third showdown between the two talented rivals is set to take place at the Lusail Sports Arena in Qatar where they once met and fought last March of this year.

Carl Jammes "Wonder Boy" Martin posted a fifth-round knockout against his Mexican opponent Juan Tostado in their super-bantamweight contest on Saturday night (Sunday in Manila) in Tijuana, Mexico.

The referee called a mercy halt to the bout after Martin dropped Tostado with a barrage of head shots.

The native from Ifugao made sure his lofty world rating was going to stay, and the impressive victory could elevate him to top contender from No. 2 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO) and in the top five from No. 7 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF).

Tostado managed to get up, but the third man on the ring was wise enough to stop the carnage, allowing the Filipino southpaw to raise his record to 24-0 with 19 knockouts.

The victory of “Wonder “Boy” over Tostado was Martin’s second fight outside the Philippines after relocating from his homebase in Lagawe, Ifugao.

Meanwhile, Tostado already has a boxing record of 27-15-1 win-loss-draw with 10 of his wins being knockouts.

Last September, Martin also knocked out Mexican boxer Anthony Jimenez Salas in Sinaloa.