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Chris Cozzone: Watch out: Martinez has twinkle back in his eyes

By Chris Cozzone
Friday, February 16, 2007

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The banner that runs the length of the ring in which David "Finito" Martinez spars and sweats reads: "David Martinez - New Mexico's Future Champ."

For a while, that's what he looked like. But in the last two years, two losses by technical knockout in step-up fights have lowered expectations and given rise to a host of questions concerning Martinez.

"I know what I can be," says Martinez, who is scheduled to fight in the co-main event on the Johnny Tapia farewell card next week at Isleta.

Martinez, 16-2-1 (3 KOs), will take on Santa Fe's Bryan Garcia, 7-16 (2 KOs), in an eight-rounder at 124 pounds.

"I haven't lost my hunger," he says. "I'm not discouraged. And I wouldn't trade those losses for anything. They're going to help me become a better fighter."

When Martinez moved back to the Duke City in 2004 from Stockton, Cal., where he became the state super flyweight champion, he wowed local fans with a near-flawless performance against El Paso's Alex Becerra for a world youth belt. A year later, Martinez, then a 122-pounder, was ready for his next big step: national exposure in a co-main on Telefutura against tough Texan Tomas Villa.

It didn't exactly turn out the way he wanted. Letting the relentless, body-banging Texan control the fight, Martinez was systematically broken down until, in the 10th, the fight was stopped.

A year of tune-ups later, Martinez was ready to test the waters again, this time against undefeated Irishman Bernard Dunne in Dublin, Ireland. After eight hard-fought rounds, Martinez was stopped again.

While Martinez recouped, Villa went on to become a top-10 contender and a regular on Telefutura. Dunne, the biggest thing in Ireland since Guinness, is still undefeated and making waves in Europe, paving his way to a world title shot.

And Martinez?

His team, uncle/trainer Ray Lopez and co-trainer Armando Silva, say he's got something back that's more important than an undefeated record or a top-10 rating: his motivation.

"He's got that twinkle back in his eyes," says Lopez, "the way he did before Villa and Dunne. After those losses, he was down on himself."

"I've had a lot of time to look at things," says Martinez. "But I know what I got, and it's all good. The important thing is, boxing is fun again. They've been able to put the fun back into boxing for me again."

Martinez says he's also comfortable now, and that has more to do with his uncle's gym - the John Crego Memorial Gym, built and recently opened up in the South Valley - that he calls home now. Top amateur Archie Ray Marquez and pros Mike Alderete, Tony Valdez, Gabe Gonzales and Jackie Chavez have also been training at the Crego Gym.

On next week's card, flyweight Valdez, 6-3-2 (6 KOs), of Espa¤ola, goes six rounds with Juarez veteran Evaristo Primero, 14-9-1 (7 KOs); and Gonzales, 1-1 (1 KO) rematches Willie Villanueva, 3-0, in a four-round junior lightweight bout.

As for Martinez, while he wants Villa again, he says he's not done with Dunne and would love to test his mettle against former champ Mauricio Pastrana, who recently upset El Paso's Antonio Escalante on Telefutura. Martinez is going to have to get through Bryan Garcia next week first.

"You can't overlook a fighter like Bryan," says Martinez.

"He's taken hard fights, almost all on the road and many last minute. I know it's going to be a tough, tough fight. You can't look at his record and go by that."

Garcia has dropped eight straight fights - all on the road, all well above Garcia's optimal weight of 115-118, and all against name fighters.

"He's going to put some work on me," says Martinez. "For a few rounds, anyway. . . but I'm going to do what I do best, and that's box."

Trainer Lopez says that while the Garcia fight may be a sort of no-win situation for Martinez, because of Garcia's record, it will show him where his fighter is.

"Bryan's going to force David to put on a good show," says Lopez. "But more important, it'll show us where he's at and where he can be at the end of this year."

Starting with the Garcia fight, Martinez says he's about to break out.

"Wait and see," he says. "This year, 2007, is going to be my year."

Cozzone owns and operates NewMexicoBoxing.com. His column runs Fridays in The Trib. You can reach him at chris@cozzone.com