RELATED STORIES

• Boxing: Holly Holm beats Angel Martinez for the third time

More Pro Sports

• Tennis: Roddick hammers Japanese star
• MLB: Phillies' Howard wins big in arbitration
• NFL: Lewis takes Browns' contract deal

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Angel Martinez is about as shy with her words as she is with her fists.

"It's going to be a war," she says about her fight against Albuquerque world champion boxer Holly Holm tonight at Santa Ana Star Casino.

"The kind that ends with eyeballs hanging out."

Martinez (6-3-1, 1 KO) is aching to even the score from two previous losses and a draw against Holm (18-1-2, 5 KOs), in a 10-round bout for one of Holm's six world title belts.

Not only does Martinez envision a long, drawn-out slugfest against Holm, but she can visualize a victory, too.

"Just you watch," she promises. "Trust me. I'm here to win."

For boxing fans unfamiliar with Martinez's history - those who give her record a glance without delving in too deep - the Dallas fighter's claims of a win tonight over Holm might seem unlikely.

But there are a few things to consider:

• Martinez has given Holm the most trouble in a fight.

• Of Martinez's three losses, two are to Holm. The third - a sixth-round loss by decision - was to Layla McCarter in May. Martinez compared McCarter to a "buzzing mosquito" she was "unable to swat."

• The one common opponent shared by Holm and McCarter is Christy Martin. Holm put on a clinic in winning by a wide margin over Martin in 2005, and Martinez duked it out last year, winning by split verdict.

"This time, it's going to be different," vows Martinez. "I know just what to do, and I'm prepared for anything she comes at me with."

Despite the three previous fights with Holm, Martinez knew the call would come for a fourth.

Last year, the call came on 24-hour notice. This time, the call came eight weeks out.

"I've had eight weeks to get ready for this, and I can safely say I'm in the best shape of my life," says Martinez.

"I'm strong and ready. I'm all smiles. I just can't wait for (tonight)."

A rematch with Holm has been on Martinez's mind since their last fight in June, 2006, when Martinez subbed for Lisa Holewyne, who split town two days before the weigh-in.

"I know what this division's like," Martinez said. "I know, nobody wants to fight each other. I've had a hard time getting fights and I know Holly has, too. Nobody wants to fight her."

Few others than Martinez.

Holm's promoter Lenny Fresquez said at Wednesday's news conference that negotiations for a fight with undefeated Mary Jo Sanders of Detroit fell through because "Sanders was scared."

"Sanders came to watch Holly fight and decided she didn't want any part of her," says Fresquez. "We offered to fight over there (in Detroit), but it's obvious that she doesn't want any part of Holly.

"To Angel's credit, she's willing to step up to the plate."

Martinez doesn't view 10 rounds with Holm as such a daunting task.

"I love fighting Holly Holm. I'll fight her, win or lose, two, three, four more times," Martinez said. "It's a challenge. That's why I like Holly - like me, she'll fight anybody. She's always up to the challenge."

Martinez said she is slightly bothered by the "No Excuses" theme the card has been billed under.

"I never once gave an excuse, when I lost last year," says Martinez. "I took it. Actually, she's the one who had an excuse - her ankle, she said was bad."

Tonight, says Martinez, there'll be no room for excuses.

"I just hope she brings her `A' game into the ring," says Martinez. "Because I'm bringing 'A' through `Z'.

"I've never wanted anything more in my life and I'm not only going to win, but win decisively."