Mark Anthony Geraldo will put his Philippine super bantamweight title on the line when he faces undefeated boxer Carl Jammes Martin in a 12-round match at the Elorde Sports Complex in Sucat, Parañaque City Saturday, Dec. 4.
"Ganado ako sa laban kasi wala siyang talo at sikat na din. Gusto ko ako unang makatalo sa kaniya (I'm all fired up because he's famous and undefeated. I want to be the first boxer to beat him)," said Geraldo, who holds a 38-9-3 win-loss-draw record on top of 19 knockouts.
Since suffering defeat at the hands of former world bantamweight champion Nordine Oubaali in 2017, the Bukidnon native champion has since built supremacy in the Philippines after winning four consecutive matches against Jetly Purisima, Nicardo Calamba, Virgel Vitor, and Lorence Rosas.
This marks his third straight title defense since capturing the vacant belt against Vitor in February 2019.
The 22-year-old Martin, for his part, admitted that facing Geraldo would have to be his most difficult hurdle so far in their match dubbed as the "Ultimate Knockout Challenge."
"Ito na po siguro ang best fight at pinakamahirap sa ngayon para sa akin kasi kita naman po natin na beterano siya sa laban bukod pa sa siya ang Philippine champion (This would be my best and most difficult match so far. We see that he's a veteran and a Philippine champion too)," said the Ifugao fighter, who has an impressive record of 17 wins with 15 KOs.
Martin hopes that becoming a national champion would bolster his chances overseas when he attempts for the regional title next year.
Also returning to the ring is Rio Olympian Charly Suarez who will face fellow undefeated boxer Delmar Pellio in a 10-round non-title super featherweight bout.