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Martz hoping to defend his NABF title with backyard brawl
By Greg Gulas
YOUNGSTOWN
Daniel Martz admits that he didn’t know how to hit a speed bag when he first met with trainer Jack Loew at the South Side Boxing Club.
That was a little more than a year ago. After working with and learning the intricacies of the game from Loew, club assistant trainer John Hutter and manager Pat Nelson, the 6-foot-7, 249-pound slugger could someday crack the WBC heavyweight division’s top-40 rankings.
Martz (11-1-1, 8 KOs) is 23 and nicknamed “The Mountain.” In late June, Martz stopped Alexis Santos (13-1) by third-round retirement in Boston and captured the vacant NABF junior heavyweight title.
A native of Clarksburg, W.Va., Martz has six wins over an undefeated opponent and nine of 11 victories over opponents with one loss or none.
Martz is 2-0-1 when fighting on an opponent’s turf, something that he would like to see change.
“The win over Santos was big for me as it was my first title and now gives me something to defend,” Martz said. “It was great being an underdog and then going on his turf and getting a win, but now I’d like to see them come into my backyard and fight.”
Nelson is in discussions Oscar de la Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions and Mike Tyson’s Iron Mike Productions for his boxer to defend his crown.
“A long-term promotional deal would ensure Daniel the financial stability and television exposure that he so richly deserves,” Nelson said.
Nelson said that while Martz’s win was without question the biggest of his career, he must prepare to defend his title within the next three months.
“The win over Santos vaulted Daniel into world class status and hopefully title contention in the not-too distant future,” Nelson said. “With multiple, 8-10 round fights under his belt against formidable opponents, the upside is that he is an extremely quick learner. He has the size and strength, is bright and just gets better each and every session.”
Nelson signed Martz late in 2012 and immediately placed him in an undefeated fighters’ backyard.
Martz responded by scoring a third-round TKO over hometown favorite James Shorter in South Bend, Ind.
“I felt that I needed Jack [Loew] and John [Hutter] on board if we expected to get to the next level,” Nelson said. “Both guys developed and sharpened ‘The Mountain’ into a world-class heavyweight prospect in an impressively short amount of time.” Loew, whocalled Martz a fast learner, wishes he had more time with Martz who splits his time between Lake Milton and Clarksburg.
“He’s just a big, wonderful kid to work with and is like a sponge,” Loew said. “He absorbs everything we teach him.
“We’ve just scratched the surface with what we are trying to teach him,” Loew said. “The next three or four fights he’ll continue to learn with the sky being the limit. He really has a very bright future.”
Martz, who works as a server at the MVR, admits to some bad ring habits.
“The first thing [Loew] taught me was to throw a jab and then use my right so after pretty much brawling with an opponent early in my career, old habits needed to be broken,” Martz said. “I’m a fast learner and I try to make his way, my way.”