Graduate competes in USIBA boxing tournament

Peter Holland Jr./ Staff Writer

The city of Miami is well known to produce young talented athletes from major sports. Yet, boxing is not one of them. However, a young up-and-coming boxer from Chicago, Illinois name Julian “Juju” Martinez is looking to change all of that as he competes in the USIBA National Tournament in Los Angeles, California starting on April 7.

USIBA stands for the United States Intercollegiate Boxing Association. It was created in 2012 by current intercollegiate boxing coaches and student leaders that believed it provides ethical, safe and positive experience for their teams. Their main goal was to reinvent boxing to colleges and Universities’ athletics.

Fresh out of graduation, Martinez has been training non stop for his preparation for this 3-day tournament. Since February, Martinez would start his day jogging around his neighborhood every morning just to get himself warmed up. He would then begin his training at a local boxing gym in North Miami with a few other FIU Students, University of Miami students and Nova Southeastern University students. They all come together to compete and train with one another with different set of goals in mind. For Martinez, his main goal is to finish on top and be a national champion.

“My normal schedule will consist of running at around 5 a.m. just to get it out the way,” Martinez said. “If not, I would do it later in the day. Generally, I would spend an average day running, weight lifting like every other day, but real light because I don’t want to be bulky and you can’t throw your hands, and obviously sparing, road work, which is the running, the sit-ups, the waist, sparing, the pads and push-ups, you know old school Rocky traditional.”

Martinez is going into the tournament with a chip on his shoulder. Last year’s tournament, he came up short in the final round, and in result, he finished with the record of 16-1 (1-1 against collegiate opponents) and finished the tournament ranked the number two intercollegiate amateur boxer in the country. After the loss, the 141 pounder believed that he should be the number one boxer, and it has been in his mind ever since. His expectations can’t get any higher than it was last year. His determination, confidence and desperation of being the best could make him the favorite in winning the whole tournament.

“I’m so hard on myself, I mean every athlete should be hard on himself,” Martinez said. But, I feel like I have something holding me. Nothing is going to be giving to me. I feel like I work so hard, and I want it so bad that it almost messes with my sleep at night.”

With one more year of eligibility, the Criminal Justice major is looking to finish his collegiate career as the best collegiate boxer in the country.

Martinez will represent FIU in the USIBA tournament this coming week. Boxers from University of Miami will also be participating during the tournament. The first bout will begin This Thursday on April 7, and the final bout will end this Saturday on April 9.