It was spring of 2016 and it looked like Xavier Martinez was going to sign a promotional deal with Top Rank. Then a phone call came out of nowhere that changed the course of his boxing career.
“Leonard Ellerbe called me and asked if I would sign with Mayweather Promotions. The rest is history.”
That signing has paid off as Martinez is a junior lightweight prospect on the rise. He headlines his first card tonight against Jessie Cris Rosales at Sam’s Town Hotel & Gambling Hall in Las Vegas.
The 10-round bout will headline a four-bout ‘ShoBox’ telecast (Showtime, 10:30 p.m. ET/ 7:30 p.m. PT).
Martinez (14-0, 10 knockouts), who resides in Sacramento, last fought on Apr. 5, also at the same venue as tonight’s Mayweather Promotions’ card, stopping John Vincent Moralde of the Philippines in the third round. The Sacramento resident has shown more aggression and power over the last couple of years, stopping his last six opponents.
The 22-year-old, who made his professional debut in Tijuana, Mexico at the age of 17, signed a promotional deal with Mayweather Promotions after originally being courted by Top Rank. In fact, Martinez fought on a Top Rank card in Port Hueneme, California (located next to Oxnard) in April of 2016, scoring a fourth round knockout over Gabriel Gutierrez.
“It was my first time fighting on a Top Rank card,” Martinez told BoxingScene over the phone Wednesday night. “It was a great experience, even though I was not in the loop with what my management at the time was doing. I was getting some interest from Top Rank and I was thinking of signing with them, but I got a call from Ellerbe that Mayweather Promotions wanted to sign me. I jumped on the opportunity.”
So far, Martinez has benefitted and appreciated from signing with the promotional company.
“They’ve been good to me. They check in on me, especially Leonard. It’s the little things that matter to me.”
Martinez will face Rosales (22-3-1, 10 KOs), who is coming off a split-decision loss to unbeaten Tyler McCreary on July 19 in Oxon Hill, Maryland. The 27-year-old from Cebu City in the Philippines has lost three of his last four bouts, including a knockout loss to Shakur Stevenson on Jan. 18.
An impressive victory over Rosales would go a long way for Martinez, who believes he has to prove himself in every fight, regardless of the opponent.
“I think every fight is a statement fight for me,” said Martinez, who began fighting in June of 2015. “I want every performance to put me on the map. For me to make another statement, I have to win impressively (tonight). Rosales was knocked out by Shakur Stevenson so I would want to do the same or do so in more-impressive fashion.”
Martinez lives and trains in Sacramento, the same hometown of the late Diego ‘Chico’ Corrales. Martinez is trained by Ray Woods, the step-father of Corrales.
Ever since he was a child, Martinez idolized Corrales, but having Woods in his corner has been a godsend. Martinez is grateful to have Woods in his life, both as a trainer and a mentor.
“I looked up to Chico, but boxing saved me. I had a bad temper when I was six, and I got into boxing. It was a fun sport and I watched Chico fight on TV. I just really liked the way people gave him praise and love. He was a star.”
“Having Ray in my corner changed my life. I still have my Dad, but Ray is like a father-figure to me. I grew up in the gym, but Ray has also given me the do’s and don’ts in life. He critiques me with what I need to work on. He’s developed me into the fighter I am today.”
Martinez is confident he can have more of a breakthrough year in 2020.
“I have a great team behind me in Floyd Mayweather and Leonard Ellerbe. I know I can experience the same success Chico had if not more. The sky is the limit for me.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October of 2013 and has covered boxing in Southern California and abroad since 2000. Francisco also covers boxing for the Ventura County (Calif.) Star newspaper. He can be reached by email at santio89@yahoo.com or on Twitter at FSalazarBoxing
