A Special Night of Specia Talent in San Antonio

Saturday night at the brand new state-of-the-art, Tech Port Arena in San Antonio was a special night, to say the least. WBC Bam Rodriguez acknowledged this the next day on social media, saying it was a special night. The crowd was electric, and they knew they weren't just watching good fighters. They were watching generational talent, the future of Texas boxing, and the future of the sport.  It wasn't just Rodriguez, who was absolutely flawless and electric in stopping Sor Rungvisai over eight, absolutely one-sided rounds, even though he was. In the opening bout of the night 17-year-old, 14x-time, US national champ and international champion "Panterita" Jesus Martinez of Del Rio. The highly touted blue-chip prospect put on another strong performance. 

The teenager has a beyond his years, type of ring IQ and patience in the ring, and that is matched by his humble, low-key personality outside the ring. After scoring a knockdown in the first round of his pro-debut Panterita stayed calm and patient, and didn't sell-put or bum rush his wounded opponent. He stayed calm and outboxed his out-matched opponent, and took the UD victory. In his second pro fight, he was well in control. When a glancing blow brushed off his shoulder in the third round an off-balanced and slipping Martinez ended up on the canvas. On what appeared to be a slip but was ruled a knockdown. The 17-year-old got to his feet and brushed it off. he went to his corner and was told to stay calm, shake it off, and reminded him he was very much in control of the fight. He did just that and finished the fourth round like he started the first two working behind a jab and a stiff right hand and wobbling his opponent with a crisp left hook to pick up his second decision victory in two weeks.

Martinez's talent is noticed by some of the biggest and best in the boxing world. Given his immense talent and beyond-his-years- maturity, it's not really a question of if he gets to a world title. It's when and how many. The 118-pounder is already really big for his weight class and carries quite a bit of power. He scored posterizing knockouts in the amateurs. What weight does he grow into? 126, 130, maybe 135? It stands to reason he can win titles all the way up through those weight classes. He has the right team behind him. He is managed by two former world champions in Darren Barker, who held the IBF middleweight title, and Hall of Famer Joe Calzaghe who held titles at 168 pounds for a decade and was the lineal Ring Magazine champ at 175. He is trained by the best stable at the RBGA he is working and growing under the tutelage of Robert Garcia. Where he trains alongside a pair of world champions in Bam and Josh Franco, each of the two speaks very highly of Panterita. Mentioning just how good he looks in the gym. After his pro debut, President of Matchroom Boxing Eddie Hearn took to social media to see where the 17-year-old would be allowed to fight. Hearn got him immediately back in the ring in Texas, just two weeks after his successful pro debut. The Del Rio phenome will likely be back in the ring in August in Mexico on his next stop to potentially like his stable mate, becoming the youngest world champion in the sport. 

The Future of Texas Boxing On Stage at Tech Port Arena

The Lone Star State has emerged as one of the premier hotspots for boxing anywhere in the world. It is producing world champions and blue-chip prospects at breakneck speeds. Much of that talent will be on display Saturday the 25th in San Antonio at the Tech Port Arena. In the main event, WBC Super Flyweight champ Jesse "Bam" Rodriguez will step in the ring and make his inaugural title defense against legendary former champ and future first ballot hall of Famer Srisaket Sor Rungvisai. Rodriguez could have chosen any number of opponents, much less deserving and accomplished than Sor Rungvisai. However Rodriguez wanted the challenge and wanted to fight the legendary Thai fighter. Rodriguez, who is the youngest champ in the sport, and the first-ever world champion born in the 2000s, is no stranger to a challenge. He won his world title by beating another future hall of Famer on six days' notice and moving up two weight classes in what was perhaps the performance of the year. Rodriguez has emerged from being the hardcore fight fans darling, the fighter that every hardcore fan thought might be special, to the talk of the boxing world and the future of the smaller weight classes in a very short period of time. The 22-year-old now begins his title reign and pound-for-pound run.

Also on the card is 21-year-old San Antonian "El Castigo" Rick Medina, who will put his perfect 13-0 record on the line against fellow unbeaten featherweight prospect Raymond Ford. In what is a massive step-up fight for the unbeaten San Antonian. Recently a picture of Bam Rodriguez, Josh Franco, Mario Barrios, and Rick Medina posed together when they were children went viral. The other three in the now-famous picture have all captured world titles. It is now Medina's turn, and he can take a massive step toward that goal by defeating Ford in the battle of unbeaten featherweights. Ford is Ranked #6 by the WBA at 126-pounds and in the top 15 by the IBF. If "El Castigo" picks up the "W" he will likely replace Ford in those rankings and propel himself into the world title picture at just 21 years old.

Del Rio Native, 14x national champ, and unbeaten Bantamweight prospect "Panterita '' Jesus Martinez returns to the ring just two weeks after making his pro debut in Mexico. Panterita made his debut a successful one. Taking a brilliant four-round unanimous decision against Daniel Nunez Gomes of Mexico. The hard-hitting south Texan wowed the boxing world with his sensational professional debut and was added to the San Antonio card by popular demand. The boxing world wanted to see Panterita again, given his sensational performance in Mexico, and they will get that chance just a few hours from the fighter's hometown. He will battle with Keven Monroy 1-2 (1), and hails from California. Given Martinez continues to look impressive, it is believed he will be moved along quickly to a world title opportunity. 

Jesus "Panterita" Martinez Impresses in Pro Debut

The small border town of Del Rio, population 35,000, is home to one of if not the brightest prospect in boxing. Jesus "Panterita" Martinez compiled a 137-9 amateur record and captured 13 national titles and an international crown as well. He is now 1-0 as a professional after putting on a sensational performance and capturing a unanimous decision in his pro debut this past Friday in Guadalajara, Mexico.

Panterita, called it a dream come true to be able to work with his manager Joe Calzaghe, a two-division world champ who compiled a 46-0 (32) record and was one of Pantierita's all-time favorite fighters. After seeing the south Texan's incredible performance. It's fair to say Panterita is a dream come true for Calzaghe as well. The former world champ teamed up with a fellow world title holder Darren Barker to form International Sports Group, and The 17-year-old from Del Rio is the prized jewel. The Texan was known in the amateurs for his tremendous punching power. In his pro debut, he showed tremendous power. Additionally, he displayed poise and ring generalship. After hurting his opponent, Daniel Nunez Gomez, early in the first round. He stayed on top of his wounded opponent and scored with another right and then another that dropped Nunez Gomez. Pantierita was able to hurt his overmatched opponent every time he landed the right hand. However, the determined Nunez Gomez was able to make it through the first round.

Martinez, who came out aggressively in the opening stanza, didn't get overly excited and settled down and controlled the remainder of the bout. Working behind an educated jab and mixing up levels, Martinez showed a bit of everything. Landing left hooks that stunned Nunez Gomez and mixed in body shots that wore his opponent down. He set up his punches perfectly and would sneak in right hands that would snap back the head of his opponent. Nunez Gomez, an MMA fighter, showed rugged determination in making it to the final bell. However, the decision was academic as Martinez secured a unanimous decision in his first pro fight by scores of 40-35 X2 and 40-36

Jesus "Panterita" Martinez signs with Joe Calazaghe and Darren Barker

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."