Martin reframes next fight as title shot doorway
Unbeaten Filipino bantamweight prospect Carl Jammes Martin resumes his push toward a world title shot when he faces Carlo Demecillo on May 16 at the Philippine Marine Corps in Fort Bonifacio.
The 12-round bout marks Martin’s first fight of 2026, with the 26-year-old treating it as a crucial step toward a championship opportunity.
“Our whole team is looking at this as a world title eliminator,” Martin said. “If given the chance in the next fight, we want to be ready to fight for a world title.”
Martin carries a perfect 27-0 record with 20 knockouts and is currently ranked No. 2 by the World Boxing Organization (WBO). He last fought in October 2025 during the 50th anniversary of the “Thrilla in Manila” at Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Appearing at the Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum alongside his father and trainer Abel Martin, the Ifugao native said preparations have centered on conditioning for what he expects to be a demanding contest.
Importance of patience
“We are continuing our training and focusing on conditioning because this fight will not be easy,” Martin said. “We are fully focused on preparation.”
Abel Martin, a former professional boxer, believes his son is nearing readiness for a world title fight but stressed the importance of patience.
“We are not rushing things because it’s difficult if you move too fast without certainty,” he said. “If it’s meant to happen, maybe the world title fight will come in 2026.”
Martin is handled by MP Promotions and has expressed willingness to fight abroad against any of the division’s champions.
“We are ready to fight, even overseas,” he said.
The bantamweight division is currently led by WBO champion Christian Medina of Mexico, IBF titleholder Jose Salas Reyes, and Japanese champions Seiya Tsutsumi (WBA) and Takuma Inoue (WBC).
Standing in Martin’s way is Demecillo, a 29-year-old Cebuano with a 19-12-2 record and 11 knockouts.
