It’s hard being a good guy in the sport of boxing. Whether you are a fighter, trainer, manager, or closely associated to the sport in any way, you will often find that loyalty and good will are often taken for granted amidst the madness of the boxing world. It’s no secret that the sport is filled with snakes and the crooked business that takes place is enough to make people seriously doubt their involvement in the sweet science to begin with.
Boxing trainer and manager Lou Martinez knows this all too well and he has found that being a stand up guy in the game is a true test of one’s patience and overall character. Martinez currently trains and manages a handful of fighters while also running Palm Beach Boxing and Training Center located in West Palm Beach , Florida on a day to day basis. A former kick boxer and boxer himself, Martinez has found his current lifestyle one that he wouldn’t trade for anything. The Queens native has found a way to stay connected to his past while also playing a big role in the futures of his students.
At the moment Martinez is getting ready for a show at the Palm Beach Gardens this coming Friday, November 21st. Martinez will be working with several fighters on the card and seeing them in action is like a culmination of all the work he has put in with them at the gym.
On a slightly chilly Thursday night, Martinez opened up about his life and his involvement in the sport of boxing just moments before training a squad at his gym. In his own words, this is what Martinez had to say about his time in the sport of boxing, working with his stable of fighters, his thoughts on the November 21st card, and the battle he faces as one of the good guys in the business…
Drama Free Life…
“I was born in Puerto Rico but I grew up in Queen’s, New York . I was raised in New York and went to school up in the North East. I moved there when I was three years old so most of my life has been in the states. I’ve got to say that I always had a great life. I was never the type to get into trouble and I got along with everyone and seemed to have a lot of friends, much like my life today. I just had a real easy upbringing with great parents and I didn’t have any drama in my20life.”
Getting Into Sports…
“I first started out doing regular sports and I took interest in karate. I eventually got into kickboxing, because I had a black belt in tae Kwan doe and I wanted to take things further. I started doing kickboxing when I was late, probably when I was twenty-two years old. That was a great experience for me and I really loved it, especially when I started to learn how to mix the kicking and punching together. What made me a good kick boxer was that I was actually a better boxer than I was a kick boxer. I feel that because I got a late start in boxing I kind of missed out on it a bit.”
Discovering Boxing…
“From the amateur kickboxing I started to get into amateur boxing. I definitely had a bigger love for boxing than kickboxing. I turned professional an d ended up having twelve fights and fighting on television four times, including kickboxing and boxing. I didn’t have my first amateur boxing match until I was 24 and didn’t turn professional until I was 26. Because of my late start I feel that it somewhat hindered me.”
Team Effort…
“I try to teach all of my students the things that I know. I know what can take you up and I know what can bring you down. I realize that the managing aspect of the sport is one of the biggest parts of it. A lot of guys come to my gym and a lot of them don’t realize how important it is having good people around you. They think that once they get into the ring that they are by themselves but it’s not like that. Boxing is really a team effort and you have to have the right corner and the right people looking out for your career. It’s definitely not a one man show.”
Lou Martinez (far left) and Team Ibahiem King
Love and Care…
“I manage about six guys now and watching their careers is key to me. The gym that I run is a full time gig for me and I work with anyone who is willing to learn. Most of the fighters are kind of head cases, despite being nice guys, and you have to really learn to work with them. They definitely can fight but you have to convince them of their abilities nearly every time out. You definitely have to put love and care into it. The fighters have to care more than you but you have to put a lot into it. You have to be careful with the decisions you make because they affect the fighters and their lives. Some fighters are willing to fight anybody but you have to convince them of the right fight and the right time.”
A Great Life…
“I do have a great life. A lot of people I work with don’t train until late in the afternoon so I don’t have to get up right away. I’m here until late in the afternoon and I am my own boss. I work my own schedule and I travel a lot with the boxin g. Even the people who don’t compete professionally, you can still see how much they want to learn. It’s great to be able to work with people like that and give them a sense of accomplishment. I love it because they all feel they are learning something. Once a month I hold a show here called Fight Night and the students in my gym are the ones who do the exhibitions. There are no winners and no losers and they get up there and the crowd cheers for them. For that one day they have the feeling of really fighting. It’s great to be able to provide that for them.”
Working With Ibahiem King…
“Ibahiem King has been with me since day one. I taught him how to throw a jab. He is now 5-0 and has a big fight coming up on the 21st against Luis Hodge, who is 5-6. Ibahiem and I went all the way through he amateurs together and as an amateur he won the Eastern Trials, he went to the U.S. Regionals and won, and went pretty far when we went to Colorado, only losing to ranked people in the states. We were at the Olympic trials and didn’t make it, so we turned professional and in a short time we have already gone 5-0. I think he definitely has a bright future ahead of him if he keeps working hard.”
Working with Abi Santizo…
“Abi has also been with me since day one. Abi is just a hard worker. He is called La Maquina, which translates into ‘The Machine’ because the guy just doesn’t stop punching. We’re going into a 10 round fight with a slick fighter, Tyrese Hendrix, who is a very slick southpaw and we’re definitely going to keep the pressure on. Our advantage is that it’s a 10 round fight and the longer it goes the better.”
November 21st…
“November 21st in shaping up to be a great card and we always receive great support to these events. I have Ibahiem King headlining the card against a veteran with 11 fights, and I am working with a few other prospects as well. Jonathan Campbell will be on the card and he has been a great amateur. I’m looking forward to the 21st.”
The Battle Within…
“The sport of boxing is a real tough one. It’s hard being the nice guy in boxing because everybody is trying to work a side deal on you. I am lucky enough because the fighters I do have are the ones who have walked through the door with me from day one. I took them through their amateur days. I’m not the type of coach who gets fighters with built up records and I wouldn’t even want that because those type of fighters are always trying to make some kind of side deal. I hate to say it, but it’s a cruel business, from the managers, the promoters, and just everyone involved in the sport. People try to lie to you and do whatever they can to put things in their favor. It’s a very tough battle but I try to stay one of the good guys in the sport.”
Palm Beach Boxing and Training Center is located at 1611 N Military Trail in West Palm Beach, Florida. The gym can be reached at (561) 833-2131 for any training inquiries
