UNBEATEN Carl James Martin is open to all options - even the possibility of going up against former four-division world champion Nonito Donaire.
The 26-year-old Martin said it would truly be an honor to share the ring with Donaire in a fight pitting the past and the future of Philippine boxing.
“Walang problema. Magiging isang mahalagang history para sa bansa ang makapag-bigay ulit ng karangalan. At least dalawang Pinoy ulit ang maglalaban,” said Martin, currently ranked No. 2 by the WBO.
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Even his father and head trainer, Abel Martin, expressed willingness to take for the Donaire fight – or any other fighter for that matter.
“Walang problema kahit sinong ibigay na kalaban lagi kaming naka-ready,” said the elder Martin.
Father and son appeared in the weekly Philippine Sportswriters Association Forum at the PSC media room on Tuesday.
For a long time, Donaire was the star of the bantamweight division and was the oldest to win the 118-pound belt at 38 years old when he scored a fourth-round stoppage of Nordine Oubaali in 2021.
But the 43-year-old from Talibon, Bohol has been on a decline the last two years, losing four of his last five fights including an unsuccessful attempt to wrest the WBA bantamweight crown from Japanese champion Seiya Tsutsumi last December.
Just last month, rising star Riku Masuda stopped him in the eighth round of their non-title bout in Japan.
Donaire’s record currently stands at 43-10 with 28 KOs.
Asked by SPIN.ph if he believes his son has the tools to compete and beat Donaire, the elder Martin had a shy smile on his face.
“Sa taas ng ring pag-usapan yun,” he said.
Martin (27-0, 20 KOs) is currently in the thick of his preparation for a May 16 non-title bout against Carlo Demecillo of Cebu at the Philippine Marine Corp in Fort Bonifacio, Taguig.
The Lagawe, Ifugao native last fought as part of the ‘Thrilla in Manila’ 50th anniversary celebration on October 2025 at the Smart Araneta Coliseum. He is currently being handled by MP Promotions.
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