WORLD-RATED super bantamweight Carl Jammes Martin made an impressive debut on American soil as he scored a convincing unanimous decision victory over seasoned Mexican fighter Francisco Pedroza on Sunday, June 1, 2025, (PH time) at the Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas.
Martin, considered as one of the Philippines’ best prospects, showcased his impressive footwork and boxing skills in his first fight in the US.
He dropped Pedroza in the sixth round with a solid overhand right. Though the tough Mexican survived the knockdown, the 26-year-old Martin remained in control and cruised to a comfortable victory.
After eight rounds of action, judge Don Trella scored the bout 79-72, while judges Tim Cheatham and Cory Santos had identical 78-73 scores -- all in favor of Martin.
With this latest triumph, Martin improved his record to 26-0 with 20 knockouts, while Pedroza fell to 19-13-2 with 11 knockouts.
Following his impressive win, Martin could earn a world title shot anytime soon. He is currently ranked No. 1 in the World Boxing Organization (WBO), No. 8 in the International Boxing Federation (IBF) and No. 30 in the World Boxing Council (WBC).
Japanese superstar Naoya Inoue currently holds all the belts in the super-bantamweight division.
Martin is currently based in the US and is training alongside former world champions Mark Magsayo and Jerwin Ancajas, Olympic medalist Eumir Marcial, Weljohn Mindoro, and Jonas Sultan. / EKA