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American challenger Raul ‘Cobra’ Martinez knows a thing or two about Philippine boxing, although the name of pound-for-pound king Manny Pacquiao is the first thing that comes to mind.
Martinez will soon be arriving on local shores as he attempts to dethrone International Boxing Federation flyweight king Nonito Donaire.
The fight is scheduled in the morning of April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum and Martinez, according to John Whisler of the San Antonio Express-News is aware of the historic angle about the cavernous venue.
"I plan to have my own Thrilla in Manila," Martinez told Whisler when the scribe dropped by Martinez’s training camp in the Texastown of Jarrell recently.
Martinez, who is of Mexican ancestry, is an unknown commodity among Filipino fight fans and only die-hard followers of the sport know who he is and what he is capable of doing.
Unbeaten in 24 fights with 14 knockouts, Martinez is a two-time US amateur champion and is fresh from a 68-second knockout of Victor Proa.
Martinez has been training diligently under the guidance of Fernando Castrejon, who used to be the right-hand man of the Mexican masetro Nacho Beristain in Mexico City, and he plans to put on a show that will rekindle memories of that epic 1975 clash between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
But Donaire said he will not let Martinez shame him on home soil.
"No, not in my own backyard," said Donaire.
Martinez will soon be arriving on local shores as he attempts to dethrone International Boxing Federation flyweight king Nonito Donaire.
The fight is scheduled in the morning of April 19 at the Araneta Coliseum and Martinez, according to John Whisler of the San Antonio Express-News is aware of the historic angle about the cavernous venue.
"I plan to have my own Thrilla in Manila," Martinez told Whisler when the scribe dropped by Martinez’s training camp in the Texastown of Jarrell recently.
Martinez, who is of Mexican ancestry, is an unknown commodity among Filipino fight fans and only die-hard followers of the sport know who he is and what he is capable of doing.
Unbeaten in 24 fights with 14 knockouts, Martinez is a two-time US amateur champion and is fresh from a 68-second knockout of Victor Proa.
Martinez has been training diligently under the guidance of Fernando Castrejon, who used to be the right-hand man of the Mexican masetro Nacho Beristain in Mexico City, and he plans to put on a show that will rekindle memories of that epic 1975 clash between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier.
But Donaire said he will not let Martinez shame him on home soil.
"No, not in my own backyard," said Donaire.
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