Reading’s Eric Martinez prepares for professional debut

Reading’s Eric Martinez prepares for professional debut

It’s simple for younger athletes to turn out to be immodest and conceited, particularly with as a lot success as Reading’s Eric Martinez has had in his newbie boxing profession.

But the 20-year-old boxer is the exact opposite, because of the means he was raised and the people he surrounds himself with.

Advertisement

“In boxing, they come, and they go,” Martinez said. “One day you could be at the highest, and the next day at the lowest. I stay humble because you never know what’s going to happen. That’s something my mom always instilled in me, to stay humble and let the work speak for itself.”

Martinez, a longtime member of Star City Boxing on Centre Avenue in Reading, has stayed humble throughout his 14-year newbie boxing profession, never getting too high or too low.

He holds a report of 100–21, including 21 knockouts, however those accomplishments will soon take a backseat as Martinez takes the next step in his profession, making his professional debut on April 3 in Allentown.

“It’s a mix of everything. It’s excitement, anxious, and nervous, but I think I’m more excited than anything right now,” Martinez said a few months out from his fight. “I’m just embracing the moment. Since it’s my first fight, it’s something new to me. I’m just excited. My team’s been on my side the whole time.”

Advertisement

Martinez has a strong help system at Star City, a team he considers household.

“It’s more than boxing, this is family,” Martinez said. “I was just talking to my mom about that, too. I see them every day, so they’re basically family. We all push each other. Max (Baez) and I have been training together since we were little kids. Everybody just comes in here and tries to make each other better. Nobody has an ego. Nobody feels like they’re higher than anybody else. We all just push each other to be the best we could be.”

Owner Alex Betances and coach Lindsay Bates have created that type of atmosphere at Star City, hoping all their younger boxers can undertake a little bit of Martinez’s mindset and angle, not just in boxing, however in life basically.

“Man, I’m super proud. He’s a good kid and has an amazing mother and family,” Bates said of Martinez. “It literally starts with his mom, she’s very polite, respectful, and humble. He could be very arrogant, because he has it like that. But he’s humble, well-spoken, and a team player.”

Advertisement

Martinez’s mom, Erica Ocasio, echoed the same sentiment as she prepares to look at her son flip professional.

“I’m super proud of him because he really pushes himself,” Ocasio said. “Sometimes he amazes me, because there were times he was tired of it, but his love of boxing and his discipline kept him going. That’s when I realized, ‘There’s nothing I could do to make him turn back,’ and all I could do was support him.”

Martinez’s uncle and coach, Jose Espada, added, “He comes from a boxing family, but no one has reached the amateur ranks the way he did. He has the talent, work ethic, and a great team behind him to become a world champion.”

Martinez has envisioned this second for a very long time, and now the realization of that dream is lastly starting.

Advertisement

His training routine has intensified over the past month as the fight got here together. Currently, he’s doing two-a-day periods in the fitness center, with Tuesdays and Thursdays devoted particularly to strength and conditioning.

While the grind for Martinez and his team at Star City has slowly picked up ahead of his big debut, he still doesn’t know who he’ll be going through in the ring in Allentown.

However, Martinez and Coach Bates aren’t apprehensive, as he’ll be able to go no matter who stands in the reverse nook.

“That’s something the amateurs kind of built me for. Going to national tournaments, you don’t really know who’s going to be in front of you,” Martinez said. “The amateur experience definitely helped me prepare for this moment, so whoever it is, we’ll be ready.”

Advertisement

Martinez, a state and national champion at the newbie level, is prepared for what’s ahead, with hopes of an extended and profitable professional profession.

“His IQ is very high, because anytime you have 100 wins and 20 losses, you’ve seen a lot of different styles, and that’s what Eric’s good at: he adjusts,” Bates said. “No matter who the opponent is, we have to be in this gym. Rain, sleet, or snow, the mindset is that you’re in the trenches.”

Do you want sports activities? Stay informed with the latest in sports activities. At
TheGossipBlogger.com,
we cowl breaking news, match outcomes, athlete updates, and key developments from major leagues and competitions worldwide.

From soccer, basketball, and tennis to global tournaments and local games, our reporting highlights the performances, information, and rivalries shaping today’s sporting panorama.

Beyond scores and outcomes, we also share analysis, exclusive interviews, training insights, and tales from behind the scenes — supplying you with a whole view of the action.

Bookmark
Sports
and check back recurrently for correct, well-curated updates that preserve you related to the athletes and occasions making headlines.