Rawlins, Wyo., population: a little more than 9,000, is the hometown of Marine and possible future Olympic champion boxer Samuel Martinez.
Martinez, an All-Marine Corps Team boxer, recently triumphed in the light welter-weight division at the 2007 Armed Forces Boxing Championships at Bennett Fitness Center on Lackland Air Force Base, Texas. The southpaw defeated the Navy's Petty Officer 2nd Class Adam Fusinato by decision to claim the gold medal in the competition.
The Marine and the Navy boxers had met before in a sparring round aboard Camp Lejeune when Fusinato, last year"s Armed Forces Champion, came here to train. "I sparred him and he was good. I knew that he came down to my weight class from 152 to 141, and I wasnt nervous or anything. For me, I go in there and I am focused. You know, this is what I do, I box. I do it everyday. So I dont get nervous, said Martinez, adding, Youve got to think that youre No. 1 and youre going to win. And that was my mentality.
Staying positive and listening to the advice of All-Marine Corps Boxing Team head coach Ronald Simms were two keys to Martinezs win. It was a good fight for the championship. [Fusinato] gave me a run for my money. I just had to stay calm and relaxed during the fight and just do whatever coach was telling me to do. You know, he was telling me 'Keep moving. Stay to your right. Stay away from him. Punch. I did what he told me to do and I came out with the win, said the humble Martinez.
The win afforded Martinez an opportunity to compete at the Olympic Box-Off in August and the All-Armed Forces Tournament in India in October. He will also be boxing at the U.S. Nationals in Colorado Springs, Colo., in June.
Martinez, who enlisted in the Marine Corps in December 2005, began boxing at the tender age of 14 when his cousin, Bert Herrera, started the Gladiators Boxing Club in Rawlins. I was one of the first ones on the team. He taught me everything that I knew about boxing [at the time], said Martinez.
The all-around athlete boxed all through high school while competing in football, basketball, wrestling and track as well. I found out that Im a better boxer than I am a football player or wrestler, so I stick with boxing. Its worked out pretty good so far.
In fact, one could say that sticking with boxing has worked out very well for Martinez. He is a six-time Wyoming State Champion and a four-time regional champion having been to two Junior Olympic Championships and two Mens National Tournaments.
He is now competing with some of the best boxers in the nation and he says that his Marine Corps training helped him get to where he is now. Ive stepped up my game a lot since I started. Joining the Marine Corps team has intensified my training and my work ethic. Just training with the Marine Corps has given me more discipline going through boot camp and all that, said Martinez whose military occupational specialty is basic engineer equipment mechanic.
Simms speaks highly about Martinez and all that he has accomplished. Its a once-in-a-life-time chance to get to the Olympic box-off. Thats the top eight boxers in the country. It only happens once in every four years, and thats really something to be one of the elite boxers in the United States in your weight class, said Simms.
Additionally, Simms uses only superlatives to describe how Martinez contributes to the All-Marine Boxing Team. His work ethic is the best that Ive ever seen in amateur boxing, he said, adding, The guy is so positive and determined to win. I just hope that the other guys on the team are looking at him, even though he is the youngest guy on the team, to see his work ethic and his enthusiasm so that they can get a piece of that.
Perhaps Martinezs work ethic and positive attitude will produce the opportunity for him to go home to Rawlins as an Olympian. I feel good about the Olympic [Box-off]. Its a once-in-lifetime opportunity and everything that I worked for. You know, this was my goal, this was my intention, to get to the Olympic trials. Now, Im here. I just got to keep going, keep practicing and live my dream.
Boxer Profile
Name: Samuel Martinez
Age: 21
Rank: Lance Corporal
MOS: Basic Engineer Equipment Mechanic
Home unit: 2nd Radio Battalion, II Marine Expeditionary Force.
Station: Marine Corps Base, Camp Lejeune
Hometown: Rawlins, Wyo.
Weight class: Welter-weight, 141 pounds
Career highlights: Recently won the Armed Forces Boxing Tournament in his weight class which earned him a spot at the Olympic Box-off in August and at the All-Armed Forces Tournament in India in October; six-time Wyoming state champion and four-time regional champion; has been to two Junior Olympic Championships and two Mens National Tournaments.
Questions and answers with Martinez:
Q: What do you love about boxing?
A: Its an individual sport. Its only you in there, and its only you that will win it. Thats what I enjoy about it. I also love the training and the discipline. Its gotten me to where I am now.
Q: What were your boxing goals when you joined the Marine Corps?
A: My first goal was just to get on the team and be the No. 1 guy in my spot. My second goal was the win the Armed Forces Tournament and I did that. I reached that goal. Another goal was to get a chance to try out for the Olympics, and I got that. Now I just have to set higher goals, you know, winning the Olympic trials and going to the Olympics. Being on the Marine Corps team, and Coach [Ronald] Simms, and sparing and everything will help me get there.
Q: How do you feel about your chances at the Olympic Box-off?
A: I feel good about the Olympic [Box-off]. Its a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and everything that I worked for. You know, this was my goal, this was my intention to get to the Olympic trials. Now, Im here. I just got to keep going, keep practicing and live my dream.
Q: Talk a little bit about your training.
A: Coach Simms has taught us a lot about [sports] psychology and thinking positive all the time and about being a champion. So hes helped us a lot.
Q: What do you plan to do once you leave the Marine Corps?
A: I hope to continue my career after the Marine Corps and go pro, and see how far I get from there.
Q: Is there anything else that you would like to say?
A: I would like to thank my unit that I came from for giving me the opportunity to join the team and getting the chance to try out and everything. Im thankful for that and Im thankful for my hometown in Wyoming; they support me a lot. Im also representing Wyoming and the Marine Corps at the same time. And, you know, theyre all really proud of me back home, and that has encouraged me a lot. All I can do is keep going and train hard. |
