Opening Bell: Kareem Martin Signs With Al Haymon; Top Dog & Dusty Harrison on ESPN
Photo by Patrice Harris
by Gautham Nagesh
That was fast. Just a few weeks after we named him the 2013 Stiff Jab Amateur Boxer of the Year, Sarah reports exclusively that Headbangers amateur star Kareem Martin is ready to turn professional with some big-time backing:
Tiara shared the bittersweet news that Kareem Martin, Stiff Jab’s 2013 Amateur Boxer of the Year, just signed on with boxing’s top power broker Al Haymon. Yet another promising amateur prospect scooped up into the pros!
Martin confirmed his signing to Stiff Jab later on Wednesday.
“Yes it’s true that I’m signed with the Al Haymon family. That’s all I got to say,” Martin said.
Haymon is the shadowy advisor to many of the sport’s biggest stars today, including Floyd Mayweather and Adrien Broner. His stable frequently works with Golden Boy Promotions, and are all but banned from HBO. Haymon’s fighters frequently earn big paydays for facing questionable opposition, and he holds considerable sway over the sport’s TV executives, particularly at Showtime. Small wonder Haymon is considered the best manager in the sport.
Signing with Haymon is considered a fast-track to fame and fortune, and proof a young boxer is one of the most promising prospects in boxing. Other recent Haymon signings include Headbangers super middleweight Dominic Wade, and practically the entire 2012 U.S. Olympic team. Martin will be one of several local fighters in Haymon’s stable, including featherweight Gary Russell Jr.
It’s not hard to see why Haymon would be interested in Martin; the 18-year-old was easily the best welterweight in the country last year, and a frontrunner to make the 2016 Olympics, if he had chosen to stick around. We don’t know if the elimination of headgear for elite male amateurs influenced his decision, but I wouldn’t be surprised if it did.
Regardless, Martin immediately becomes one of the most intriguing prospects at welterweights, and will continue to feature prominently on this site. He should be turning professional in the near future, and we’ll do our best to be ringside to track the latest local talent with world class potential.
Gary Russell Jr. Added to January 30 Show at Barclays: Speaking of Russell, he will return to action next week on the undercard of Victor Ortiz vs. Luis Collazo at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, according to friend of the blog and Ring Magazine scribe Lem Satterfield. Russell has only fought twice in the past two years, thanks to some injuries and trouble securing fights.
Russell’s camp claims they were turned down by second-ranked Jhonny Gonzalez, whose February 15th rematch with Abner Mares has been postponed after a rib injury to Mares. Getting back into the ring, regardless of the opponent, would be a good way for him to start 2014. We still fully expect Russell to eventually rule the roost at 126 lbs., thanks to his combination of blinding hand speed and superb technical skills.
Top Dog Headlines On ESPN: A huge weekend for Beltway fight fans starts early when local light heavyweight prospect Thomas “Top Dog” Williams Jr. squares off with Cornelius White of Texas in the main event of ESPN’s Friday Night Fights from Shelton, Wash.We’ve been tracking Top Dog for years, and he has finally drawn some interest outside the region after his recent wins on national TV.
We expect Top Dog to give White the business, and possibly win by stoppage in the middle rounds. A good showing could help Williams secure a fight against a top contender later this year, but there aren’t many soft touches in the top ten at light heavyweight, one of the toughest divisions in boxing at present.
Dusty Hernandez-Harrison Returns Next Friday: Keeping with the theme, 2012 Stiff Jab Prospect of the Year Dusty Hernandez-Harrison will make his national television debut next Friday on ESPN, headlining against Tim Witherspoon Jr. from West Orange, N.J. This will be great exposure for Harrison, and another chance to add to his growing fanbase up and down the East Coast. Witherspoon shouldn’t pose a serious threat.
Jordan Shimmell Returns February 22: West Michigan cruiserweight Jordan Shimmell (12–0, 10 KOs) will headline another show at the DeltaPlex in Grand Rapids, Mich. on February 22nd. Also fighting will be Holland, Mich. junior welterweight Johnny Garcia (18–1, 11 KOs).
