By Kevin Haas
Rock River Current
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ROCKFORD — Angel Martinez was one of the best amateur boxers in the country at age 17, with a skillset that put him on the cusp of competing in the Olympics and made him one of the top prospects to turn pro.
His achievements had earned him hometown hero status, including his face on a mural on the city’s west side.
Then he stepped away.
Now, at age 22, he’s ready to step back in the ring for the first time in four years.
His return comes with a new outlook on life, one focused on personal growth and development rather than chasing achievements such as Olympic medals or title belts.
“I don’t want to set any goal of exactly what I want to do,” Martinez said Wednesday in between training at Rockford Patriots Boxing Club for his upcoming bout. “I just want to set an objective to be the best me I can possibly be with no limitations.”
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The decision to leave boxing was an unexpected move from a young man who had worked tirelessly to excel in the sport since he was 10 years old. That work had paid off, too. He won multiple youth and junior national championships before he won the prestigious Golden Gloves title at age 17, defeating men in their 20s with a high-pressure style that wore his opponents out.
“At that moment in time he was one of the best in the world,” said Jimmy Goodman, Martinez’s coach. “He was where some world champions are at today.
“He was on the verge of an Olympic status or on the verge of a top prospect at the pro level.”
But Martinez had other aspects of life he wanted to explore.
He joined the Army National Guard and served a yearlong tour of duty in 2020 that included nine months in Kuwait. He also stayed committed to continuing his education, where he had been equally successful as a 4.0 honor student at Auburn High School.
“It was a tough decision, but I knew I had to do what was best for myself and my growth,” he said. “What I did in the time that I was away helped me grow a lot as an individual.”
The 2018 Auburn High School graduate, who is now attending classes at Rock Valley College, will compete Saturday in the Rockford Boxing Classic. The outdoor amateur competition held under the Rockford City Market pavilion is the first of its kind here.
‘No favorite’
Martinez had barely started training again when the idea to compete in the event was thrown his way, but he wanted to face the challenge.
“I’ve been training for the past six months, just getting my body right, but there’s a big difference between getting in shape and getting in boxing shape,” he said.
His return to the ring will come against an experienced fighter who is about a head taller and actively competing in the sport.
Allen Terry, a 27-year-old military veteran out of Champaign, was one of few willing to step up to face Martinez, Goodman said. To make the fight happen, Martinez will have to fight in a heavier weight class than he’s ever competed in.
“Not a lot of people want to step up to fight Angel right away, but there’s a tough team out of Champaign,” Goodman said.
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Terry is a skilled boxer who is bigger than Martinez, Goodman said. But the Rockford coach has faith his fighter’s abilities.
“There’s no favorite in this coming up. He’s fighting a tough kid; that’s how amateur boxing works,” Goodman said. “It’s not like the pros where a guy comes up and does a tune-up fight. There’s no tune-ups in amateur boxing.”
Martinez fought at 108 pounds when he won the Golden Gloves title in 2017. He’s never fought anyone as big as Terry. They agreed to fight at 132 pounds.
“I haven’t been in there with a guy that size before, but I spar guys bigger and stronger, I think,” Martinez said. “So I think I’ll be able to hold my own.”
Will the extra weight Martinez has now come with extra power in his punches?
“I guess we’ll see,” he said.
Martinez and Terry are slated to compete second-to-last on the card, with Rockford police officer Cory Magnuson in the final fight of the night.
“I hope there’s a big show out,” Martinez said. “I think it will be awesome, and I think one of the best shows we’ve ever had.”
‘A lot of time left’
It’s unclear where Martinez goes from here with his boxing career.
“He’s still a young guy. He’s got a lot of time left in the sport,” Goodman said. “As long as he wants to be back and he wants to do it, then I want him here.”
Martinez was the first Rockfordian to win a Golden Gloves title since Kenny Gould, who went on to win a bronze medal in the 1988 Summer Olympics.
But the rigors of highly competitive amateur boxing can take their toll. The stress of constantly managing weight and always traveling is difficult, Goodman said. Plus, the competition was never soft.
“He was fighting the best guys in the world month after month,” Goodman said. “It’s not like the pro level where they can go in and pick and choose who they want to fight.”
Goodman said Martinez has always had good power, but he’s had to work to get his timing back after four years away from the sport.
“Boxing is not like riding a bike, where you can hop back on and pick up right where you left off,” Goodman said. “He started off a little slow, just like you would expect. Now he’s coming along and he’s starting to get his timing back.”
One thing that hasn’t changed is Martinez’s will to win.
“He’s got the heart and he’s got the determination,” Goodman said. “He wants to win and he can take it as far as he wants to.”
Martinez says his time in the military and in college has helped him grow as a person. Now he’s ready for whatever challenges boxing and life bring his way.
“I’m trying to be the best me I could possibly be,” he said. “Whatever that comes with, then bring it on.”
Know before you go | Rockford Boxing Classic
Date: Saturday, Aug. 13
Time: 5 p.m. (gates open), 6 p.m. youth bouts begin, 8 p.m. police and fire bouts
Cost: Free
Location: Rockford City Market pavilion, State and Water streets in downtown Rockford
For more information: RockfordBoxingClassic.com
This article is by Kevin Haas. Email him at khaas@rockrivercurrent.com or follow him on Twitter at @KevinMHaas or Instagram @thekevinhaas.