Boxing

LCpl Samuel Martinez Captures Bronze at 4th Military World Games
USMC Sports

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Samuel Matrinez receives the silver medal after competing at the Gachibowli GMCB indoor stadium during the Military World Games in Hyderabad, India, Oct. 18, 2007. U.S. Navy photo by Petty Officer 2nd Class Jennifer A. VillalovosHi Res

"That guy is good. He's above the amateur status, but I did my best. I went out there and had some fun and left the ring smiling and holding my head up, Martinez said.  It was a great experience just to be here. I got a medal and it was well worth it. I have nothing to regret. I left it all in the ring against a real technical guy."

Along the way, Martinez posted a 24-4 victory over Tunisia's Ali Shili in a bout that was stopped in the third round. He also prevailed 11-4 against Abdallah Baony of Jordan.

"This was my first year of competing at Armed Forces and I went all the way to the Worlds," said Martinez, 21, who began boxing at age 14. "Sooner or later, my goal is to be number one in the country.  Out of 24 boxers in my weight class, I'm among the top four, so that's pretty good."

U.S. Marine Lance Cpl. Samuel Martinez hits Jordan's Abdallah Baony in the face during the 64kg weight class boxing competition during the Military World Games in Hyderabad, India, Oct. 18, 2007. U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Cecilio Ricardo Jr. Hi Res

"Martinez is probably the surprise boxer on the U.S. team," Abdullah said. "He's improved a hell of a lot since the Olympic Trials. He had a heck of a performance here. I'm so pleased with his hard work. The Russian he lost to is one of the most technical boxers in the tournament. Not only is he very technical, he is very strong in that weight division. Martinez is just a bit too young for that caliber of a fighter."

All in all, Abdullah said he could not have asked any more of his team.

"This is, by far, the best team performance by this class of boxers in this quadrennial," Abdullah said.

"They've really started to show that they are growing as boxers. We just hope that they continue to grow and it carries over until 2012."

Nobody in this group of boxers had more than 20 bouts on his resume at the 2006 U.S. National Championships.

"I think the experience of the Olympic Trials is starting to kick in," Abdullah said. "It's a combination of them being determined and wanting to be successful and putting them in a good program where they can become some of the best in the nation and some of the best in the world."

"It was a bit overwhelming at first when we got to Indiantown Gap and saw all of the athletes there," he said of more than 150 U.S. Armed Forces athletes who staged in Pennsylvania for two days before departing to India. "It just dawns on you that you are among some of the world's best athletes, and there's nothing like it."

"This was a great way to close out the year. I couldn't think of any better way to end this quad than for the U.S. Armed Forces boxing team to go home from India with four medals. Now I will probably be deployed or stay in WCAP."

The 4^th Military World Games were hosted in Hyderabad and Mumbai (triathlon and sailing only), India.  The Conseil International du Sport Militaire (CISM) Military World Games are held every four years, preceding the Summer Olympics.  The Games in India included over 5000 athletes from 101 countries.  This event is only second in scale to the Olympic Games.  CISM was founded in 1948 as a means to promote international friendship through sport.  Currently, there are 25 sports that compete annually within the CISM program.  In 1995, Rome hosted the very first Military World Games, which brought 17 sports, 93 nations and over 4000 athletes under one umbrella of competition.  Croatia hosted the 2^nd Military World Games in 1999; and the Games returned to Italy in 2003, with Catania hosting.