MANILA, Philippines — Following his morale-boosting victory over David Picasso, the future is wide open for undefeated Filipino boxer Carl Jammes Martin.
The 27-year-old fighter is eager to continue facing top-ranked contenders in the featherweight division or, should the right opportunity present itself, challenge for the WBO super-bantamweight crown, where he currently holds the No. 1 ranking.
Martin outlined his team's potential next steps during Tuesday's Philippine Sportswriters Association (PSA) Forum at the Philippine Sports Commission media room, where he appeared alongside his father and trainer, Abel Martin.
"Para sa akin gusto ko yung mas mataas pa kay Picasso. Yung nasa top 3 o top 4 ranking and gusto natin yung mas mabigat pa na pangalan, at world championship para sa susunod,” Martin stated.
"Pero mas priority namin yung championship sa super-bantamweight division. But kung may offer naman na championship sa featherweight, doon muna ako mag-stay.” Martin was a guest at the session—presented by San Miguel Corporation, the PSC, the Philippine Olympic Committee, MILO, and 24/7 sports app ArenaPlus—just a day after earning a hard-fought split decision win against Picasso in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. That bout served as part of the undercard for the Canelo Alvarez-Christian Mbilli WBC super-middleweight title fight.
With the victory over Picasso, who suffered a unanimous decision loss to Naoya Inoue last year, the Ifugao native improved his unblemished professional record to 29-0 with 21 knockouts.
Sporting a small mark just beneath his right eye, Martin noted that he is entirely open to a rematch after Picasso requested a second meeting following their bout.
"Sabi ko sige. May isang salita ako, may paninindigan ako at gagawin ko yung offer mo sa akin. Kasi ako nga inakyat ko siya sa division niya, so bakit di ko naman pagbibigyan yung hiling niya,” Martin said.
However, according to the elder Martin, their immediate path forward rests in the hands of his son's management team, led by international matchmaker Sean Gibbons.
"Nabanggit ni Sir Sean Gibbons na basta mag-prepare lang kami. So pahinga siguro kami ng one month," the trainer shared.
"Unti-unti lang muna para pag dumating na yung schedule, makapag-simula na kami ng regular training.” TMT
