Boxing: Former bantamweight champion Martin Power to take on Ashley Sexton for the Commonwealth title

Published: 27 January, 2011
by STEVE BARNETT

FORMER British bantamweight champion Martin “Too Much” Power returns to the ring for only the second time in more than a year next Saturday when he takes on Ashley Sexton in an eliminator for the Commonwealth title.  

The Castlehaven Road-based fighter, who turns 31 on Valentine’s Day, is dropping down to super flyweight for the six-round showdown, which will be held at Brentwood Leisure Centre in Essex. 

Martin has once again made St Pancras Amateur Boxing Club in Kentish Town his second home as he prepares for the fight under the guidance of trainer CJ Hussein. 

There are easier ways to make a return than taking on unbeaten 23-year-old “Flash Ash”, but the father-of-two is ready and raring to go and confident he will once again reign in the ring. 

“I know Ashley really well and we have sparred together quite a lot. 

I considered him a mate until I heard he was bad-mouthing me behind my back. He was telling people he put me over in sparring, which is rubbish. 

“I know a lot about him boxing-wise, and all I can say is I’ve never looked forward to a fight so much in my career.”

To say that Martin has endured a roller-coaster of a ride since he last stepped in the ring would be an understatement. The lowest point came when his mother Nellie sadly passed away in September. On the day of her funeral his brother Sean became a father for the first time with a little girl, who was named after their mum. 

Within weeks Martin married his long-term girlfriend, Karen with whom he has a three-year-old son, Martin junior, and an 18-month-old daughter, Muryn. 

Martin said: “We had pushed the wedding forward so that my mother could be there, but unfortunately she didn’t make it. On the day she died she gave me her blessing, so we went ahead with the wedding in October. Getting married was one of the best days of my life. 

“The past year has been crazy. My mother supported me 100 per cent. Sometimes when I’m training I think of her and it really spurs me on and I push myself harder. 

“She was such a strong woman, a real fighter. She wouldn’t have wanted to see me moping around, she’d have wanted me to pick myself up and get on with things.” 

Comments

Keep up the fight Martin. Your a real champion

Submitted by Anonymous on Wed, 2011-08-24 01:24.

I have watched Martin train and fight for many years since our school days. In our school days [ Haverstock school ] there was a fight guarenteed every friday outside of school grounds and for some reason Martin was the main attraction simply because it was a joy to see him take on others twice his size and never lost, infact after flooring them he would kindly pick them from the floor and for that reason he gained his respect all around the school.

I trained in the same boxing gym he still trains [ St pancras ], and can clearly remember watching him spar with the bigger boys and at times men. His movement, vision and boxing ability assured me that he was a real champion. At times when I was training, i always took short breaks just to see Martin spar before getting a slap on the face from Brian, our trainer.

Keep up the fight Martin, was sad to hear about your mum and your right, she would never want to see you moping around so do her proud and keep up the good work.

You probably will not remember me as has been a very long time but sean will definately remember me, just ask him about Ishmeal Jack from school.

Ishmeal Jack