Former World Champions Joe Calzaghe and Darren Barker are again throwing their hats into the boxing ring with the announcement of the launch of their management group, International Sports Group (ISG). The pair wasted no time making a major splash in the Lone Star State, signing 14x amateur US National champion, and former International amateur champion, Jesus "Panterita" Martinez of Del Rio, Texas. Martinez compiled an outstanding amateur record of 137-9 and won every conceivable amateur tournament in the US and just recently went viral when he scored a vicious knockout in the opening rounds of the USA Boxing national championships in Shreveport, Louisiana, last month. Martinez had considered staying in the amateur ranks but this opportunity was just too good to pass up. Martinez said of Joe Calzaghe " I looked up to him and I still look up to him. He was one of my favorites. I use to always watch the greats, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather, Sugar Ray Leonard, Oscar De La Hoya, and Joe Calzaghe were one of them. It's amazing to be signed by him and Darren Barker"
An exciting opportunity for the kid from Del Rio, who has incredibly lofty goals. "I think by like 21, 22 I want to have my first world title and then over the years gain my other world titles... I want to be a five or six-division world champion. I wanna make history and I don't want to be one of the best, but the best to ever do it." He additionally dreams of bringing home the first world champion from Del Rio, a boxing-crazed border community Panterita describes what being a world champion from Del Rio would mean " It would just mean the world to me, to win a world title and they announce me being from Del Rio would mean the world to me. That's my birthplace, I grew up here in Del Rio. It would mean everything to me"
Martinez has been equally credited for his incredible punching power as well as his tireless work ethic. He said of his incredible one-punch power that it "doesn't really surprise me, I see it every day in the gym.. what does surprise me is the way it happens" he also explains where his incredible work ethic and drive comes from saying it's his "Passion for the sport. I come from a boxing family, my uncles my dad, my grandpa my cousins everyone boxed. Our dream always was to become a world champion. I want to make everyone proud" he says but "I also want to achieve my dream and be the best who has ever done it" He want on to add that being targeted and being the favorite in so many tournaments serves as extra motivation, saying "Even though I had God-given talent I know there are kids who have my head as their target they are training to beat me and I slip and stop training head or I get distracted they're gonna be right on my head. So I cant slip up I have to be focused"
It looks like April will be the month Martinez makes his pro-debut but as of now, nothing is written in stone for his pro debut. The 17-year-old explained "right now April is looking good. Mid-April or end of April, but fingers crossed that pulls through. It's looking good. By April I should be 1-0" Whenever he does make his pro debut he is under the tutelage of the right people and his career is on the right path to meeting his lofty goals. When asked how cool it is to be signed with two ring legends, Martinez explained "It's surreal being signed to two-notch fighters...I got to talk to them and they're amazing, lovely people. I trust them I know they are going to guide me to a good career. They've been through it all."