Super Steve Martin appoints New Manager
I caught up with Marc James, to get the official buzz on recent news release of Malta’s Hitman professional boxing license application and Marc’s new appointment as Manager.
I first met them both in the 2009, it was at the time where I was appointed the CEO of the amateur federation and Steve had a boy that was going to box in the National Championships. It was only till very recent that we started hanging out together more, says Marc James, Steve’s new Manager.
Approached by the Malta Boxing Commission first Director Mr Rio DiCaro, I joined the company as the Permanent General Secretary in November, a month within the post Steve Martin Stops Goecmen in the fifth to lift new WBU light welter weight crown.
It was Friday, 14th December 2012 that Gary Hincks who is now suspended from the MBC for failing to pay the sanction and medical fees, promoted the ‘Christmas Crackers’ event, by the Malta Knights Promotions, at the Sky Club in Paceville, Malta, local young gun Steve Martin sensationally beat Germany’s Sabri Ulas Goecmen to become the new WBU Light Welterweight International Champion.
The atmosphere at the Sky Club was electric as the protagonists, for the headlining WBU International Championship bout, prepared to make their way to the ring.
Entering first Sabri Ulas Goecmen ran the gauntlet of jeers from the heavily partisan crowd, it was deafening, but the decibel reading went right off the scale as local hero Steve Martin entered the arena. Martin started hard and fast, as instructed by his Coach Barry Smith, the twenty five year old oozed confidence as he picked off his far more experienced opponent with solid jabs and heavy rights.
By the end of the fourth round Goecmen, who had struggled to make the weight the day before, was looking drained, what could you expect really, young Martin had kept the pressure up for every single second of every round so far, so it came as no surprise that following yet another massive onslaught, in the fifth, that the German’s corner threw in the towel to save their man getting knocked out, which was a real possibility at this point. As the towel fluttered down to centre ring the entire crowd jumped to their feet cheering their young hero, at the very same time Martin’s jubilant team leapt through the ropes to celebrate with their young charge.
The official scorecards showed that Martin had won every round, all the judges’ scorecards read 40-36 in favour of the Maltese youngster, prior to Goecmen’s corner retiring their man.
I asked Marc what lays in the near future?
“The team will now build a more positive, meaner, and a faster athlete, introducing him to new combinations improving Steve’s record by fighting at Home and Away promotions as frequent as possible this year, or as our pockets can afford.” “either way we will be very busy leading up to the EBF Show, on July 5th. Our Steve Martin will visit our sister club at the end of the mouth while EBF’s Number 1, Billy Corito will visit TRAD TKO next week”.
Marc explains that the MBC is set up as a club governing its affiliations within Europe and recognised as such within other international sanctioning bodies, you could hear the excitement in his voice that for the first time in the history of the sport in the republic, Maltese Boxing is United, at last!
“With the guidance from both our sister club TRAD TKO in London and the officers of the British Boxing Board of Control as Mentors we are running a national grid according to the strict international rules set out before us, and a new National Boxing Athlete Progression called the “MBC – EBF Agreement” “never seen before in Maltese sports bodies” he says.
Marc added: “I would like to take this opportunity to thank the boxer members of “Fight Factory” for electing me as their new Club President, I would like to thank Steve for his appointment which took me by utter surprise as I felt his confidence that he shown in me, never so publically shown and I also extend my thanks to all new people I am yet to meet on my new chosen journey as Manager rather than the vacant Promotions Post, which I would have contested for in the upcoming MBC AGM”
Both The Maltese Hit-Man who will continue to be Managed and Promoted by Mr.Paul Borg will condition their bodies at TRAD TKO Gym in London under the MBC’s number 1 coach Barry Smith who has left the cold of London behind on a number of times in support of the MBC local fighters.
Steve Martin will visit at the end of the month to the much colder and rainy climes of Malta, where Barry will undertake the final preparations for Steve Martin next fight and Billy Cortio’s Professional Debut.
Barry, whose fiancée named Kelly is Maltese, and regularly trains local boxers when he visits the Islands, for extended periods of time throughout the year.
Before setting off from Malta, Barry spoke;
“As we know they train themselves out there, and they don’t have any professional corner men or cuts men out there, so I’m happy to go out there and help them out.”
“They’re happy with it and I’m happy with it, especially Steve & Billy, they are very committed to the game and I love that in them”
