Boxing Rivals Isley and Martinez Reignite Storied Amateur Clash in Professional Ranks
When undefeated middleweights Troy Isley and Javier Martinez step into the ring on Friday night, it will be a highly anticipated rematch of their epic amateur battles. The two rising stars, both boasting unblemished professional records, will renew their four-fight rivalry in a 10-round showdown at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas, with the main card slated for ESPN+ streaming.
Isley (12-0, 5 KOs) and Martinez (10-0-1, 3 KOs) have a storied history, having faced off multiple times in the amateur ranks. Martinez emerged victorious in their 2019 Olympic trials clash, but ultimately failed to make the team. Their matchup evokes memories of the classic rivalry between James DeGale and George Groves, two talented young professionals with a rich amateur past.
“This fight means everything to me,” Isley said. “This fight is a little get-back; he won the last two [fights]. I am here to show I am different, that there are levels.”
Martinez, undeterred, responded, “The feeling is mutual. This is the pros, and I feel I am better at this stage. I never ducked nobody, they offered me the fight, so I took it.”
Isley’s Resurgence and Martinez’s Challenges
Isley, 25, has recently cemented his status as a strong junior middleweight prospect, with impressive wins over Marcos Hernandez and Vladimir Hernandez, the latter of whom later went on to deliver a contender for knockout of the year. The fighter’s recent change in trainers, from Kay Koroma to Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, the same team that has guided the careers of Terence Crawford and Keyshawn Davis, has also brought about noticeable improvements to his game.
“[Martinez] is in the way of my dreams,” Isley said. “I have been looking great with Brian McIntyre; he has brought some new changes to my game, and I am not the same fighter I was in the amateurs. He is going to see that Friday night.”
Martinez, a 28-year-old southpaw who trains with renowned coach Robert Garcia, has had to overcome some challenges of his own, including a draw with Joeshon James and a knockdown in his sixth professional bout. However, the fighter remains confident in his abilities.
“I feel like when I get put with good opponents, I do better,” Martinez said. “I am confident in myself.”
Isley, however, remains unconvinced. “I hear him say that in every fight,” he said. “But honestly, he looked the same in every fight. Honestly, I am the better fighter and I am going to show that.”
The highly anticipated clash between Isley and Martinez promises to deliver a captivating chapter in their ongoing rivalry, as they look to take their storied amateur history to the professional level and solidify their status as rising stars in the boxing world.
🔗 Source
