WHILE all of us focus on the diploma to which Devin Haney, Bill Haney and everybody else was shocked by the efficiency delivered by Ryan Garcia on Saturday evening (April 20) in Brooklyn, attempt sparing a thought for Sandor Martin if you get an opportunity.
Second solely to Devin Haney when it comes to the influence generated by Saturday’s shock, Martin, ranked primary at super-lightweight with the WBC, had, like us all, absolutely anticipated Haney to do his job on Saturday and retain his belt forward of preventing him, Martin, in the summertime. This perception was then solely solidified by what the Spaniard noticed and heard from Garcia within the days and weeks main up to the battle, making the potential for an upset one thing he had not even thought-about. In reality, so far as Martin was involved, it was a completed deal; each the Haney vs. Garcia outcome and the id of his subsequent opponent. All he wanted on Saturday was affirmation of what he already knew.
“I think the whole world expected Haney to win,” Martin stated to Boxing News. “It was an 80/20 fight for Haney, on paper, and Garcia wasn’t on his level. But in the ring Ryan Garcia smashed Devin Haney.”
Smashed.
That’s definitely one phrase for it. Dropped 3 times (in rounds seven, 10 and 11), Haney was certainly smashed repeatedly by Garcia’s left hook, significantly when throwing his personal jab, and, as a consequence, carried on his face the expression of a person totally shocked by what he found; an expression worn by many watching each at Barclays Center and at dwelling.
“It was an incredible fight and incredible performance from Ryan Garcia,” stated Martin. “I believe two issues: one, if all of that was actual (earlier than the battle), he has a really major problem in his thoughts. But if it was all faux, Ryan Garcia is an excellent actor. My coach stated, ‘Wait on Garcia, because maybe he is in better form than people think.’ And that’s actually necessary to bear in mind. He had all of the playing cards and he made an excellent plan.
“Garcia put on an impressive show, but I am really disappointed with Haney. Nobody expected Ryan Garcia to be in this form and Devin Haney was the favourite. But boxing is so difficult and unpredictable. Garcia played his cards so good. He played with Haney’s mind and then did some very good work in the ring. I respect him for this.”
Ryan Garcia wobbles Devin Haney (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
Much of the frustration Martin feels relating to Haney absolutely owes to how Haney has managed to complicate what was as soon as a seemingly simple state of affairs. Now, in any case, as a result of Haney misplaced to Garcia, however retains his belt on account of Garcia’s failure to make weight, a contender like Martin presently has no concept the place he stands within the pecking order. On the one hand, he nonetheless considers himself subsequent in line, and assumes Devin Haney, regardless of the defeat, will honours this and change into his subsequent opponent. But this hope is weighed down by a far better perception that Haney will need to battle Garcia once more and that this rematch, if it occurs instantly, is unlikely to take place at 140 kilos. This, for apparent causes, leaves Martin out within the chilly, as soon as once more watching from the sidelines.
“Now I don’t know (what happens). It’s so strange now,” he stated. “Devin Haney misplaced the battle however continues with the belt. Okay. But now will Devin Haney battle me for the WBC belt? I don’t know. If he doesn’t proceed together with his belt, the WBC and (WBC President) Mauricio Sulaiman want to say one thing about this case.
“Ryan Garcia has stated he gained’t battle at 140 kilos, so I would like one other official challenger to battle for the title. Ryan Garcia informed everybody he can’t make 140 kilos, however possibly that’s simply one other loopy concept of his and he is taking part in tips once more. Maybe he can make that weight. For me, an important factor now are the conversations between my managers, Salvatore Cherchi and Christian Cherchi, and Mauricio Sulaiman. They want to give you an answer on this case. I’m ready for my alternative and ready to take the belt.
“It’s only fair that I fight for the title and that’s what I want. Winning the belt and becoming world champion is my goal in boxing. For me, and my team, and my country, and my family, that is so important. Becoming world champion helps the boxer get a better future. To achieve this, I will fight the best at 140 pounds. I will fight Subriel Matias, I will fight Devin Haney, I will fight Ryan Garcia, I will fight Isaac Cruz, and I will fight Teofimo Lopez again. It’s one of the best divisions in the world and I want to prove I am the best fighter in this division. I only need the opportunity to shock the world again. I shocked the world against Mikey Garcia and I shocked Teofimo as well. Now I just need another opportunity for the belt. Then I will do the rest.”
Martin, 42-3 (15) as a professional, returned to the ring in December with a third-round stoppage of Mohamed El Marcouchi in Torino, Italy, and felt all the higher for it, he says. He has additionally remained within the gymnasium ever since that battle, understanding his likelihood to problem for the WBC title, this chance he has wished for therefore lengthy, ought to, in a super world, be simply across the nook.
“After my last fight I continued training because I know the situation and my status in boxing,” he stated. “I’m ready for the world title.
“For me, it’s a mistake for those who want a battle to practice. You want to keep centered always, in order that is what I’m doing. I spend all the times of my life on the gymnasium. I put myself within the gymnasium to change into a greater fighter and enhance my boxing expertise.
“I was so happy (with my last fight) because I recovered sensations and some momentum. When I fought previously, I didn’t have the good vibes. I like to be in better form in the ring and I felt that in December. I was so motivated and ready to fight the world champion next.”
Sandor Martin seemingly outboxes Teofimo Lopez (Al Bello/Getty Images)
At 30, Martin finds himself in a tough place. He is, to all intents and functions, coming into his bodily and preventing prime and can subsequently little doubt take heed to losing a lot of a day ready round for choices to be made by different individuals. Yet, equally, when so shut, he is aware of that taking one other battle within the interim will run the danger of blowing all the things he has labored so laborious to achieve.
“I don’t contemplate another type of fight at this moment,” Martin admitted. “I need to battle for the world title subsequent and the WBC wants to give me that likelihood. I don’t have an issue preventing anybody in any a part of the world, however I would like to make step one. This first step is getting the chance and changing into champion with the WBC.
“In four or five years, maybe I am a different type of boxer. The most important thing is accomplishing my dreams, which started here in Spain. That is so difficult. People don’t understand how difficult it is having that dream in Spain. Maybe if I was born in a different country, I would have had an easier route to a world title. If you are born in the USA, you have more contacts and more of a chance to become world champion and have a good career. Here in Spain, it is much more difficult. That is why I am so proud. I am proud of my work in the sport of boxing. A lot of these world champions, if they had been born in Spain and lived here, they wouldn’t be a world champion.”
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