Brad Strand remains unbeaten with strong showing against Darwin Martinez
Super-bantamweight prospect Brad Strand (9-0, 3KO) remained unbeaten with a convincing victory over hard-hitting Nicaraguan Darwin Martinez (7-7-2, 6KO) on a Frank Warren promoted show at the Telford International Centre on November 19.
The unbeaten 25-year-old talent from Liverpool decked his Central American opponent in the first round, then hurt him again in the fourth, but both times he was saved by the bell.
Based in Spain, Martinez had a winning record and had stopped six opponents from his seven victories so was a highly dangerous opponent for Strand in just his ninth bout.
Trained by Paul Stevenson at the Everton Red Triangle gym, the head coach praised his 122lbs charge, “I thought Brad boxed brilliantly. Martinez was really swinging them in but Brad boxed behind a real snappy left jab, showing great smarts, ring generalship and big power in the right hand.”
Stevenson added, “Brad is really on the rise and will definitely fight for titles in the New Year.”Promoter Frank Warren agreed that Strand is on the cusp on title contention.
Strand added his aims for 2023, “I’ll just have a week off then I’ll be back in the gym again and hopefully have a date for my next fight in the New Year. Hopefully I’ll keep active next year, I definitely want to up the rounds and the level of my opponents.”
On the same weekend, on the night prior to Strand’s victory, teammate Boma Brown (1-0) got off the mark in his professional career with a debut win in London.
Born and bred in Wembley, heavyweight ‘Bomber’ Brown made his pro bow in Islington on Friday, November 18, just 10 miles from where he grew up.
The Arsenal FC fan, aged 27, was poised and patient to win on points against Nottingham’s Lamah Griggs (1-4), with an impressive, controlled performance, winning all four rounds.
Boma didn’t start boxing until late, around 19-years-old, but went on to win three Midlands titles as an amateur, and counted European bronze medallist Delicious Orie as his main sparring partner.
Both Brad and Boma expect to enjoy a week off before heading back to the century-old ERT gym to prepare for their respective 2023 campaigns, where Strand is looking for title challenges and Brown will be aiming to keep as busy as possible.
The successes didn’t stop there for the historic Everton Red Triangle, as amateurs Louie Szeto and Lucas Bisawana both won their National Championships quarter-finals in style to progress to the semis next week.
All this good news follows on from WBC Silver featherweight champion Nick Ball’s devastating first-round knockout win last weekend that now sees him positioned 11th in the world.
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