Leotis Martin

Leotis Martin
Statistics
Real name	Leotis Martin
Nickname(s)	Otis Lee
Rated at	Heavyweight
Height	6 ft ½ in (1.84 m)
Reach	76 in (193 cm)
Nationality	American
Born	March 10, 1939(1939-03-10) Helena, Arkansas
Died	November 20, 1995(1995-11-20) (aged 56) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Stance	Orthodox
Boxing record
Total fights	36
Wins	31
Wins by KO	19
Losses	5
Draws	0

Leotis Martin (March 10, 1939–November 20, 1995) was an American boxer, the first ever NABF heavyweight champion and best known for his victory over former heavyweight champion Sonny Liston. Martin was a good puncher and a fairly skilled heavyweight who fought from 1962 to 1969. He compiled a record of 31 wins (19 KOs) and 5 losses and in 2003 was named to the Ring Magazine's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. His career, however, was marked by inconsistency and bad luck.

Amateur career

Martin was the 1960 Chicago and Intercity Golden Gloves 160 lb champion and the 1961 160 lb Intercity Golden Gloves Champion (alternate). He also was the United States National AAU 165-lb. champion in 1960 and 1961.

Professional career

From February 1964, where Martin fought on the Liston-Clay world heavyweight championship fight undercard, to June 1967, Martin fought 15 times without suffering a defeat. This winning streak qualified him for the WBA heavyweight elimination championship series, after that group had stripped Muhammad Ali of its world heavyweight crown when he refused induction into the United States Army. But even this win streak was laced with hard luck, On May 10, 1965, he faced Sonny Banks, then one of only two fighters to have knocked Muhammad Ali down for a count. Martin scored a nine round knockout over Banks. Martin's jubilation was short lived. Banks never recovered from the blows he received during the fight and died from his injuries.

Although Martin was selected for the WBA title elinination tournament, he was matched, in his very first fight, against the ultimate tournament winner Jimmy Ellis. The two fought in the Houston Astrodome on August 5, 1967. Ellis, as was his style at the time, came out sharp, trying to score an early knockout with his sneak fast and dangerous right hand. Although unable to knock Martin out, Ellis inflicted a nasty cut inside of Leotis' mouth which ultimately caused the fight to be stopped in the ninth round. Scoring was around evens at that point. Many had predicted Martin might win the elmination series. Martin had compagned for a contest with fellow Philidephian Joe Frazier, but it never happened. Mainly due to his loss to Bonavena who got the match instead.

Martin rebounded from the Ellis defeat by travelling to Germany to knock out German and European heavyweight champion Karl Mildenberger in 7 rounds. Martin appeared to be back in contention for a title shot when he dropped a decision to California heavyweight Henry Clark (record 14-3-2). He then came back from that defeat to upset and knockout Thad Spencer in 9 rounds. His title quest, however, again was derailed when Martin travelled to Argentina to meet Oscar Bonavena in his home town of Buenos Aires, where he lost by decision. Bonavena went on to fight Frazier for the world title.

After the Bonavena loss, Martin put together a four fight win streak, including two wins over Detroit hometown favorite Al "Blue" Lewis. These fine efforts landed him a match with veteran former champion Sonny Liston on December 6, 1969. Liston had resumed boxing after his two stunning losses to Muhammad Ali, and had run off a winning streak of 14 fights with 13 knockouts. Although slowed by age, Liston was still a feared heavyweight.

Martin, who formerly had been Liston's sparring partner, devised a good fight plan. Rather than attempting to slug with the bigger and heavier Liston, Martin stayed away from him, boxing and waiting for the older man to tire. Despite a close call in the fourth round when Liston caught him with a booming left hook that knocked Martin down, the plan worked to perfection. With every passing round Martin seemed to get stronger while Liston weakened. Finally, in the ninth round, Martin hit Liston with a beautiful, powerful combination that knocked the former champion out cold. Fate, however, double crossed Martin once again. He had suffered a detached retina during the fight, and was forced to retire before he could capitalize on the biggest win of his career.

After boxing

For the next 26 years Martin lived a quiet life in the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia. Early in 1995 he retired from Budd & Co. after 31 years as a machinist. In November that year Martin had a stroke brought on by hypertension and complications from diabetes, and died en route to a local hospital. Aged only 56.

Sadly very little coverage was given Martin in the boxing media at the time of his death, despite his famous victory over Liston.

Professional boxing record

31 Wins (19 knockouts, 12 decisions), 5 Losses (2 knockouts, 3 decision), 0 Draws [1]
Result	Record	Opponent	Type	Round	Date	Location	Notes
Win	31–5	Sonny Liston	KO	9 (12)	06/12/1969	International Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States	Won vacant NABF Heavyweight title. Martin down in round 4, and was behind on points before he knocked out Liston with a vicious right. Martin was forced to retire shortly afterwards, as he suffered a detached retina in this bout.
Win	30–5	Roger Russell	UD	10	18/11/1969	Spectrum, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	29–5	Wendell Newton	KO	7 (10)	28/10/1969	Blue Horizon, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	28–5	Alvin Lewis	SD	10	26/02/1969	Detroit Olympia, Detroit, Michigan, United States
Win	27–5	Alvin Lewis	TKO	9 (10)	26/11/1968	Detroit, Michigan, United States
Loss	26–5	Oscar Bonavena	UD	10	07/09/1968	Estadio Luna Park, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Win	26–4	Thad Spencer	TKO	9 (10)	28/05/1968	Royal Albert Hall, Kensington, London, England, United Kingdom
Loss	25–4	Henry Clark	MD	10	27/04/1968	Coliseum Arena, Oakland, California, United States
Win	25–3	Karl Mildenberger	KO	7 (12)	05/04/1968	Festhalle, Frankfurt, Hessen, Germany
Loss	24–3	Roger Russell	SD	10	27/11/1967	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Loss	24–2	Jimmy Ellis	TKO	9 (12)	05/08/1967	Astrodome, Houston, Texas, United States	Elimination Tournament for WBA Heavyweight title (Ellis-Martin/Bonavena-Mildenberger vs. Quarry-Patterson/Spencer-Terrell).
Win	24–1	Billy Daniels	PTS	10	06/06/1967	Toledo, Ohio, United States
Win	23–1	Lee Carr	KO	2 (10)	29/05/1967	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	22–1	Ulric Regis	TKO	5 (10)	29/05/1967	Port-of-Spain, Trinidad And Tobago
Win	21–1	Remington Dyanti	TKO	3 (10)	26/02/1967	Baltiska Hallen, Malmo, Sweden	Dyanti did well in the first two rounds when Martin took it easy. As soon as the American punched more and increased the tempo in the 3rd, the South African was hit and went down, looking very dejected. The referee stopped it.
Win	20–1	Mariano Echevarria	RTD	3 (10)	03/02/1967	Gothenburg, Sweden	Martin hit with hooks to the head and body. Echevarria threw wild swings which missed. He got a cut eye. But in the 2nd the Echevarria actually shook Martin, who had to step back to reexamine the situation with him. A right in the 3rd floored Echevarria. He clung on to Martin through the round, bleeding from eye and mouth. He didn't come out for the 4th.
Win	19–1	Roberto Davila	PTS	10	22/12/1966	Lima, Peru
Win	18–1	Amos Johnson	KO	3 (10)	05/12/1966	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	17–1	Von Clay	PTS	8	06/12/1965	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	16–1	Curtis Bruce	TKO	6 (10)	14/10/1965	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	15–1	Sonny Banks	KO	9 (10)	10/05/1965	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States	Sonny Banks died of injuries sustained in a 9th round knockout loss to Leotis Martin in Philadelphia.
Win	14–1	Don Warner	KO	1 (?)	19/04/1965	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	13–1	Earl Battles	KO	3 (?)	29/03/1965	Philadelphia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	12–1	Dave Bailey	PTS	8	22/02/1965	Philadelphia A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	11–1	Dave Russell	PTS	8	20/04/1964	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	10–1	Allan Harmon	PTS	6	25/02/1964	Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Loss	9–1	Floyd McCoy	KO	2 (8)	30/09/1963	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	9–0	Billy Johnson	KO	1 (?)	22/07/1963	Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada, United States
Win	8–0	Johnny Alford	PTS	6	24/06/1963	Convention Hall, Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win	7–0	Frank Davis	TKO	2 (?)	24/06/1963	Cambria A.C., Miami Beach, Florida, United States
Win	6–0	Monte Monnie McCoy	TKO	4 (6)	13/04/1963	Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	5–0	Buddy Moore	PTS	6	05/02/1963	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	4–0	Joe Washington	PTS	6	18/12/1962	American Legion Arena, Reading, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	3–0	German Hernandez	KO	1 (?)	21/05/1962	Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	2–0	Bob Rutherford	KO	4 (?)	23/04/1962	Alhambra A.C., Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Win	1–0	Bobby Warthem	SD	4	26/01/1962	Kenwick Terrace, Sarnia, Ontario, Canada

External links

• Professional boxing record for Leotis Martin from BoxRec