Martin to defend PH super bantam title vs Baldonado


Carl Jammes Martin is set to defend his Philippine super bantamweight title for the first time against Filipino challenger Ronnie Baldonado next month.

Philippine super bantamweight champion Carl Jammes Martin and Ronnie Baldonado (Photos from Carl Jammes Martin's Facebook page and tapology)

Martin, 22, will not only put his belt on the line but will also compete for the vacant WBA Asia super bantamweight title in their 12-round bout at the Elorde Sports Complex in Paranaque City on March 12.

This marks Martin's first title defense of the Philippines Games and Amusement Board super bantamweight belt since capturing it last Dec. 4.

He dethroned compatriot Mark Anthony Geraldo en route to the belt with a unanimous decision win.

The Ifugao warrior remained undefeated in 18 matches on top of 15 knockouts.

Baldonado, for his part, has been inactive from the boxing scene since absorbing a majority decision loss against Enrique Magsalin last September 2019.

Prior to that, the Cotabato native boxer, who now has a 15-2-1 record with nine KOs, was in a five-match win streak from June 2018 to June 2019.

The event will be headlined by a WBA Asia Super featherweight bout between Filipino Olympian Charly Suarez and Tomjune Mangubat.