Chris Martin signs with Top Rank
(Left to right) Coach Sergio Melendrez, Chris Martin's dad, Guillermo Martin Sr., Martin, and Martin's brother Guillermo Martin Jr. holding his daughter Mia. Photo: Jim Wyatt
It’s official, after a nice lunch today, at the Hard Rock Cafe in Los Angeles, unbeaten super bantamweight Christopher “The San Diego Kid” Martin (23-0-2, 6 KOs) who lives in Chula Vista, signed a multiyear agreement with Top Rank Promotions. This morning, Martin, along with his long time coach Sergio Melendrez, and two close friends, Jorge “Tito” Ruiz and Carlos Adams, flew to Los Angeles, and from there, were treated like visiting royalty.
Chris Martin (center) is surrounded by his buddies at the Alliance Training Center in Chula Vista. Photo: Jim Wyatt
While at Top Rank’s headquarters, they had an opportunity to meet Manny Pacquiao and Juan Manuel Marquezwho were in town to promote their upcoming mega-fight. The two super stars of boxing had a press conference at the Beverly Hills Hotel to announce their third world Welterweight title fight in the Pacquiao-Marquez trilogy.
Chris Martin opened even the doubter's eyes when he outboxed Chris Avalos.
While at Top Rank’s headquarters, Martin said he was so awestruck by the boxing memorabilia and large photos of the boxing greats – “Everyone from Marvelous Marvin Hagler to Roberto Duran, from Tommie “The Hitman” Hearns to Sugar Ray Leonard, it was like walking through a museum.”
Coach Melendrez was also impressed, “They got me feeling like a little kid…but I’m holding it in.”
After arriving back in San Diego, Martin spent the rest of his day on the phone receiving the well deserved congrats from family and friends. When asked about his future plans, Martin mentioned his goal of home ownership, “At this point, I believe our family has outgrown our little two bedroom apartment. Home ownership is definitely in our plans.”
Top Rank will soon announce that Martin is projected to fight in Las Vegas on October 1st, a fight to be televised on Fox Sports. He’ll be on the undercard of the Toshiaki Nishioka versus Rafael Marquez 12 rounder, a bout for Nishioka’s WBC junior featherweight title.
Also on that fight card they have Roman Gonzalez fighting Gilberto Keb Bass (a 12 rounder), for Gonzalez’s WBA junior flyweight title; plus Jesus Soto Karass versus Yoshihiro Kamegai, a 10 round welterweight clash. At this time, Martin’s opponent is expected to be Jorge Diaz.
Then on December 3, 2011, Martin will be headed to New York’s famed Madison Square Garden to be on the Miguel Cotto versus Antonio Margarito II undercard, a 12 round affair for Cotto’s WBA junior middleweight title.
