Magali grabs vacant Asian Boxing Federation and vacant Philippine Super Featherweight straps
Carl Jammes Martin worked out a nice early Christmas gift for himself and the Cordilleras when he registered his 15th straight victory last December 21, 2019 at the Manila Arena.
The “Wonder Boy” who hails from Hingyon. Ifugao, floored his opponent, Philip Luis “The Destroyer” Cuerdo, in the 3rd round leading to the latter’s corner waving the fight off a few seconds later.
With the victory over the Paranaque native who was fight out of the Penalosa Boxing Gym, Martin also recorded his 14th win via stoppage and retained his Philippine Boxing Federation (PBF) Bantamweight belt.
Martin started the fight by sizing up Cuerdo, using his lateral movement and footwork that most now compare to Manny Pacquiao’s.
It took over a minute for Martin to find the opening and deliver the first meaningful blows of the fight, a couple of combinations to the head and a three-punch combination to the body.
Martin sneaked one more left to the body and was going for more but the also southpaw Cuerdo quickly recovered by charging in with an overhand left.
Martin then connected an overhand right as both fighters exchange blows, mostly to the body, until the end the round.
Martin opened the second with combinations that initially targeted the head then eventually going to the body. Both fighters again traded big blows with Martin initiating the exchanges and Cuerdo countering.
The combatants were clearly wary of each other’s power during the round. Martin utilized more right hand blows, trying to make them take a toll on Cuerdo, who was surprisingly taking the shots and playing along Martin’s stand up game.
Martin and his corner probably saw something good during the second round as he sprung up from his chair to deliver right jabs to the face to set up a combination to the body.
After a great escape act from Cuerdo’s counter using head movement, Martin repeated the same sequence.
The difference this time was a left hook to Cuerdo’s jaw after the body combination sent “The Destroyer” crashing to the canvas.
When Cuerdo was able to beat the ten-count, Martin charged in to rain punches to the wobbly Cuerdo and was clearly going for the kill.
Cuerdo was still able to deliver some counter punches early during the onslaught but another left hook by Martin aimed at the jaw found its target and led to a five-punch unanswered big shot connections finally dropped his guard and forced his corner to jump in the ring to prevent further damage.
The loss dropped Cuerdo’s fight record to 11-9-1, 7 of his losses came via stoppage.
This bout was Ifugao Boxing Stable star’s first defense of his PBF title which he initially won against Benezer Alolod on September 2019 by a 7th round TKO.
Aside from the PBF Bantamweight title, Martin is also the owner of the World Boxing Association (WBA) Asia Bantamweight and the World boxing Organisation (WBO) Oriental Youth Bantamweight titles.
He knocked out Hashimu Zuberi of Tanzania in the second round to win the then vacant WBO title on April 2018 at Lagawe, Ifugao and stopped Indonesia’s George Lumoly on June 2018, also at Lagawe, to win the then vacant WBA title.
He made one successful defenses of each crown.
He defended the WBO title by dropping China’s Huerban Qiatehe in the second round on August 2018 at Bayombong, Nueva Vizcaya then retained his WBA title by stopping Moon Chul Suh of South Korea on October 2018 at Lagawe.
Martin has also been the World Boxing Council Asian Boxing Council Continental bantamweight and the Philippines Luzon Professional Boxing Association Bantam belts holder in the past.
In the other co-main event, Carlo Magali of the Highland Boxing Gym based in La Trinidad, Benguet took possession of the vacant Asian Boxing Federation and vacant Philippine Super Featherweight titles by hacking out a split decision over Al Toyogon of Gingoog City.
Magali improved his career fight record to 25-13-3. 13 of his wins came via abbreviated finishes. Toyogon suffered his six defeat against 10 wins and a draw.
By ARMANDO M. BOLISLIS