Angel Martinez punches out legendary competitor, local lesbian emerges as number-1 ranked welterweight

Another star is lighting up Big D's sports cachet.

On Oct. 6, Buddies II bartender Angel Martinez went toe-to-toe against boxing pioneer Christy Martin at the Coeur d'Alene Casino in Worley, Idaho. The bout certainly had a David-Goliath quality. Martin (46-4-2, 31 KO) is considered one the most famous female brawlers in the world: In 1993, she became a media star when she signed a pay-per-view deal with legendary promoter Don King.

Martinez (6-2-1, 1 KO) is a relative newbie. But her crisp body punches, unquenchable hunger and sharp right hand are earning her considerable cred in the ring.

Originally from California, Martinez attended Southwest Texas State University in San Marcos on a basketball scholarship. She intended to play professional ball, but an injured knee sidetracked her. Once the knee mended, Martinez joined the Marine Corps and spent two years at Camp Pendleton specializing in explosives.

After years of competitive kickboxing, Martinez began training as a boxer about five years ago. The 30 year old now weighs 150 pounds, adding nine pounds since January, when she defeated Yvonne Reis for the Women's Intercontinental Boxing Association's light middleweight title.

Martinez's bout against Martin was originally scheduled as a World Boxing Council world title, but that fell through. However the opportunity to fight Martin was still on the table, and Martinez was itching for it.

With 20 years of boxing experience and more than 50 professional bouts, Martin lost only four to some of the best fighters in the world.

Martinez had a substantial height and reach advantage, but Martin was quicker on her feet. During the first three rounds, Martin was winning mixing double and triple jabs with a hard body attack.

During the fourth round, everything unexpectedly changed: Near the round's end, Martin opted to stand toe-to-toe with Martinez. But Martinez continually walked down Martin, keeping her at the end of a long stiff jab and attacking with hard right blows, which ultimately lead to Martin's defeat.

TOUGH ENOUGH: Martin, left, put up a tough fight. But she succumbed to homegirl slugger Martinez’s hard right-handed blows.

The final tallies read in Martinez's favor: 97-96, 97-93 and 96-94. With only eight professional bouts, Martinez is the International Boxing Association number-one ranked welterweight. She now stands amidst the best in the world, and Martin must now reconsider her retirement plans.

Martinez's trainer, Pete Rojas, has her in a Grand Prairie boxing gym for three-hour sessions six days a week. She also runs two-to-five miles a day. We recently caught up with the Dallas boxing star, whose career just keeps taking off.

Did you win any moolah for beating Christy Martin?
In boxing, people get it confused. After the two fighters are acquired, they're mandated to sign contracts. The fighter and the promoter agree upon the amount paid to both fighters. So whether you win or lose, you get paid. Now women don't earn anywhere near what the men make, but that's steadily changing.

Had you fought Christy before?
No, but I wanted the chance to fight her before she retired.

Why have you added more weight?
I weigh about 150 pounds, and I fight anywhere between junior welterweight to junior middleweight divisions: 140 to 150 pounds. But not many women want to fight me at 140, so that's why I've moved up so fast, so soon. Now I'm only fighting top-ranked females and winning.

How did your training change this past year?
It went from hard to agonizing. The one thing I learned in this sport is, the better you get, the harder the competition gets. There's always someone younger and hungrier out to get you. So my training is constantly getting more and more challenging.

What are your strengths?
Power and conditioning.

What were Christy's strengths?
Her power and head movement.

What were Christy's weaknesses?
She's very wide with her punches, which allows you to see everything before they hit their mark.

She also has poor conditioning she's used to knocking out everyone with just one punch. That's not much of a strategy.

What's next?
Everything. I want to fight all who want to challenge. In order to be the best, you have to fight the best. Women's boxing is starting to blow up. And what I do will make it easier for future women amateurs. I guess you can say that I'm paving the way.

What's the first thing you did when you won?
I jumped up on the corner of the ropes and called my victory a victory that so many thought was impossible. Then I ate the greasiest hamburger I could find in Idaho.




This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition, October 20, 2006.