He maybe widely regarded as the best Super Featherweight in the world but it’s an honour that has been bestowed on Roman “Rocky” Martinez more so because other fighters have left the weight class than what he has actually done himself. This year both Humberto Soto & Robert Guerrero abdicated their throwns as WBC & IBF champions to move up to Lightweight. Martinez 27, wants to prove he’s the top man at 130 and will look to catch the publics eye with his second defence of his WBO championship defence against Gonzalo Munguia who’s rated at number 11 by the WBO. Having been a pro since December 2001 Martinez has seen many things along the way to taking his record to 23-0-1(14) he’s beaten several very good fighters but now he wants to prove he’s worthy of being called the best and that campaign starts on 29 May against Munguia in Puerto Rico.
Hello Roman, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Firstly you have a fight with Gonzalo Munguia on 29 May. What can you tell us about this fight?
Roman Martinez – Well, it’s going to be a difficult fight because it’s a fighter that likes to come forward and place his punches strategically. I’ve watched some videos of him and we have already have planned out our attack.
Anson Wainwright – Where are you training for the fight? What’s a typical day in the gym?
Roman Martinez – I’m training in the Dorado Puerto Rico municipal gym and my head trainer is Raul “Papo” Torres. A typical day of training starts at 4:00am with my 55 minute run, and then I rest till 11:30 am and then head to the Dorado Gym where I strength train and box for about an hour and a half. I am currently sparring with two 140 pound prospects from the Island.
Anson Wainwright – You were due to face Ricky Burns from Scotland. What happened to prevent that fight happening?
Roman Martinez – The fight didn’t happen because there were some differences in the economic side of things but in the warrior side I’m willing and able to fight him. I loved Britain, the people there are gentle and treated me with a lot of respect I’m looking forward to going back. I also would like the opportunity to give a shoutout to Shannons Gym who helped us keep in shape for the Cook fight.
Anson Wainwright – Since you went to Manchester and won the title against Nicky Cook how has life changed for you? How much more popular have you become? Do you get asked to do more things than previously?
Roman Martinez – Life’s been good, but it has been a result of my hard work and dedication. Nicky Cook gave me a chance to face him and I gave it my all and got to fulfill my lifelong dream: become a World Champion. Yes, becoming a world champion has given me a lot of exposure and its direct result of the high quality of opponent that I faced to win my championship and my dedication.
Anson Wainwright – Who is part of team Martinez?
Roman Martinez – Raul “Papo” Torres-is the head trainer
Dennys “Sensei” Rivera- is the assistant trainer (From Philadelphia, helping Rocky to improve his head and lateral movement)
Ricardo Rodriguez-Rivera-Publicist
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your early years in Vega Baja and how it took you into Boxing?
Roman Martinez – I remember that I always loved boxing and I wanted to start practicing it but at the moment I had bad grades and I remember that my father and uncle told me that if I didn’t get good grades that I wasn’t going to be able to start. So I improved my grades and then I was able to start boxing and now here I am having the privilege to be talking to you.
Anson Wainwright – What are you goals in Boxing?
Roman Martinez – First I would like unify my weight class and become its Super Champion and then go up to light weight and do the same. And be able to become a pound for pound best.
Anson Wainwright – Who has been your toughest opponent to date and why? What do you think is your best win?
Roman Martinez – They have all been tough; I’m just not able to pick one in particular. They all have been great wins but if I have to pick one I would be Nicky Cook because of the level of difficulty that I had to encounter in him, he’s a great fighter.
Anson Wainwright – Who was your Boxing hero?
Roman Martinez – Félix “Tito” Trinidad and Julio Cesar Chavez they’re both just amazing.
Anson Wainwright – What can you tell us about you as a person and what you like to do away from Boxing?
Roman Martinez – I always like to rest a lot and have fun with my family. Speaking of family I just started training my 6 year old son Luis Antonio who is already showing his skills.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have a message for Gonzalo Munguia? Do you have any prediction?
Roman Martinez – Just to come in his best condition because we’re fighting in front of my people and we should give them the spectacle they deserve. No predictions, I’m just going to give it my best.
Thank you for the opportunity and my best to all the 15 round staff and people from England who always have shown great support to my career.
Good luck in your upcoming figtht Roman.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
VIKINGS AGAIN STAND IN PATH OF UNBEATEN BUCS
The Record (Bergen County, NJ) September 14, 1997 | VINNY DiTRANI VINNY DiTRANI The Record (Bergen County, NJ) 09-14-1997 VIKINGS AGAIN STAND IN PATH OF UNBEATEN BUCS By VINNY DiTRANI Date: 09-14-1997, Sunday Section: SPORTS Edition: All Editions — Sunday Column: NFC NOTEBOOK
Last time the Tampa Bay Bucs opened the season with two straight wins was 1992, when they beat the Cardinals and Packers at home. They took that record to the Metrodome, where they were spanked by the Minnesota Vikings, 26-20.
The Buccaneers won just three more games in 1992.
Tony Dungy was in his first year as defensive coordinator of the Vikings that season. Now Dungy is in his second year as Tampa Bay head coach, as the Buccaneers take their perfect record to the Metrodome for an early NFC Central showdown with the 2-0 Vikings.
Showdowns haven’t exactly been populating the Tampa Bay schedule recently, considering the team has had double-digit loss totals in 13 of the last 14 seasons, and dropped nine in the 14th (1995). Last time anyone outside the Tampa city limits — and many within those limits — paid any attention to the Bucs was the strike-shortened season of 1983 when they went 5-4 and lost in the first round of the playoffs to Dallas.
There are signs, however, this Buc team is ready to make some noise other than the huge roar from the simultaneous starting of their car engines moments after a regular-season finale. Dungy, 41, knows it will take a lot more than a win today — which would make Tampa Bay the only undefeated team in the NFC — to convince people that the Buccaneers are more than the NFL’s version of a college homecoming opponent. see here new nfl uniforms
“It’s still very early and we have the reputation of `Oh, they’re Tampa Bay and they’ll fold up,'” he said. “I don’t think that’s going to happen. I would be surprised if we don’t continue to improve.”
Some say it’s those new Buccaneer uniforms — about the only new NFL uniforms in recent years that don’t make you gag — that will keep the Bucs on the winning track. Others, like Dungy, say it’s the players inside those uniforms making the difference.
“We’re stocking up with young players,” he said. “We have the second youngest team in the league and we’re not opposed to playing young players.”
While some coaches think the best thing about young players is they grow older, Dungy has sprinkled his lineup liberally with youngsters.
The defense is thriving with the development of defensive linemen Warren Sapp and Regan Upshaw, linebacker Derrick Brooks, and cornerback Donnie Abraham, all in their second or third years. Middle linebacker Hardy Nickerson provides the veteran leadership. see here new nfl uniforms
The offense features running back Warrick Dunn, fullback Mike Alstott, receivers Reidel Anthony and Karl Williams, plus four linemen in their first or second seasons. The emergence of Trent Dilfer as a force not just on the golf course but also at quarterback is another reason Dungy thinks his Bucs are for real.
“When I took the job, everybody talked about the 10-12 years of losing and all the negatives,” Dungy said. “I didn’t want to look at history. I didn’t see any reason we couldn’t win. We had a lot of young players that were pretty good.”
Oh, yes, don’t forget the Vikings are also a surprising 2-0. “All we’ve heard all week is, `Tampa is 2-0.’ And, `Gee, they’re the undefeated team in the NFC,'” said Minnesota offensive coordinator Brian Billick. “And I think the guys are taking that as a challenge.”
Helping hands don’t stretch far
Last spring the NFL joined with the Canadian Football League in an agreement to aid the CFL through its difficult fiscal times. One of the possibilities mentioned in the agreement was the chance CFL players would become available to NFL teams once the season ends in Canada in late November.
Could this mean a player such as Toronto quarterback Doug Flutie plays the last month of the NFL season for a club that lost its starting quarterback to injury?
Don’t count on it. A player from the CFL is prohibited from playing in the NFL by rule, and it would take a vote of the competition committee to change the bylaw.
“It has been discussed, but we haven’t taken any vote on it,” said Giants general manager George Young, co-chairman of the competition committee. So at least for 1997 there won’t be a late-season influx from Canada. And there doesn’t appear to be great sentiment around the NFL to allow it to occur in the future.
Rhodes may be hitting road
Rumblings continue out of Philadelphia that head coach Ray Rhodes is in his final season with the Eagles because of continuing differences with owner Jeffrey Lurie. Rhodes is upset Lurie won’t spend money to keep players in his program. “It’s very difficult,” Rhodes said when asked about creating continuity when the roster fluctuates drastically every season. “The first year we turned over 30-plus guys. Last year it was 24 guys. This year it’s 23 or 24 guys. I would like to get some continuity and keep a group together for some time, but that’s been hard for me to do.”
Reeves’ closed-door policy
Atlanta coach Dan Reeves closed his practices last week for fear friends of former Falcons personnel man Kenny Herock might feed Herock, now working for Oakland, pertinent info. Reeves did the same thing last year before his Giants played Bill Parcells and the Patriots in the finale. . . . Rams quarterback Tony Banks, who fumbled 21 times as a rookie last year, had three more fumbles last week against the 49ers and has begun carrying a football with him everywhere he goes. Coach Dick Vermeil must have learned that one while covering college games for ABC.
. . . The idea was that putting a fullback in front of Barry Sanders in the Detroit backfield would make Sanders an even more effective runner.
Sanders has run for 53 yards in two games. So much for that theory.
