Lone knockdown makes Martinez wiser, tougher

MANILA, Philippines - Raul Martinez has been down on the canvas only once in his career. He has no plans of going down a second time when he faces Nonito Donaire on Sunday at the Big Dome.

It was in 2006 against Ilido Julio in a super-flyweight contest in Texas. After dropping his opponent with a body punch early in the first round, he took a left to the face and went down, too.

But Martinez, now older, stronger and wiser, got up and went on to score a technical knockout in the 10th and final round. Julio’s right eye was totally closed the referee had to stop it.

“I was off-guard when he caught me, and I went down. I hit the canvas and won. And I gained experience from that,” said Martinez, who worked out yesterday at the Punch-Out Gym in Makati.

The undefeated Mexican (24-0 with 14 knockouts) took it light and easy, upon the advise of his trainers, Fernando Castrejon and Alberto Cruces. He came to the gym after Donaire had left.

Donaire, the reigning IBF and IBO flyweight champion, is done with all the hard work, too, and is all set to rumble on Sunday where Fil-Am Brian Viloria challenged Mexican Ulises Solis for the light-fly title.

Viloria also worked out at the gym yesterday, while Solis, who vowed to go for the knockout, failed to show up.

“We’re done with the hard part in training. We’re now moving lightly. Not too much of the heavy bags because I can’t get any more in conditioning,” Martinez spoke in straight English.

“It’s now just a matter of maintaining my weight,” said Martinez who was at 114 lbs last week but was 117 when he got to his room at the Manila Hotel the other day after a long flight from LA.

The other day, Martinez proudly displayed the huge tattoo on his left arm, that of a cobra. He was nicknamed “La Cobrita” after his former trainer noticed that he moves as quick as a cobra.

“It’s really poisonous and deadly, you see,” said Martinez, glancing left at his tattooed arm.