In the early morning from Saturday to Sunday, Sandor Martín will face Puerto Rican Alberto Puello for the world title of the World Boxing Council (WBC) in New York. The message is the same among some of our former champions: it will be a historical day. “We are all Sandor on Saturday night and we have to be supporting our next world champion,” says Kiko Martínez, who was monarch of the supergallo and pen weight. Javier Castillejo, which also reigned in two categories (Superwelter and Medio), calls: “To the Spanish public I recommend that this fight is not lost because this you don’t live every day.” In the same line, it is expressed by Gabriel Campillo, Exclusing of the semi-stable: “Everything who likes sport would have to try to see it because a World Cup is not usual in our country.”
As Sandor arrived in New York on Sunday, he has already started the carousel of acts that surrounds this type of large evenings. Although he has the experience of having lived something similar when he faced Mikey García and Teófimo López, there is an added ingredient that is the sauce of this sport: the champion belt.
## Historical evening
According to Kiko, “he has a very good opportunity,” although he adds: “Whether he wins and if he loses, I think Sandor will remain there because I am convinced that he will make a great fight.” The ilicitano sees his compatriot with his arms raised: “I believe a lot in his victory because neither of the two contestants is American, although I think Sandor will have to work a little more just in case, since the evening is prepared by the promoter of his rival.” Javier Castillejo agrees: “I think it has options to be champion. It is very important that we have someone to pull the car to come behind more champions.” Campillo values that Catalan can leave his seal in a large place: “He has a golden opportunity and he is very clear that you have to win no matter if you shine more or less. If you can later make it attractive, better because they open even more doors, but he is already on stage that is the next level. In the United States, in the face of the future, it is even more important than the result the image you leave.”
## TIPS
All of them have been in Sandor’s situation. Each fight and each person is a world, but from distance they advise the Spanish contender. ‘The sensation’ focuses on its adaptation: “My advice is to regulate the rest this week of fighting. It is very important because only he has gone with a week to adapt to the schedule and that can change invoice. Before my first fight for the title I went to train to the military field in the United States six weeks before the fight and there I gave everything.” Castillejo speaks of concentration: “I tell him that he is focused on his fight, but enjoy these moments because they are unique and one never knows if they will repeat again. That visualize your strategy and to wait for the moment when the bell sounds to do your job.”
## The fight
They all see a favorable fight for Sandor. “Puello is a good and aggressive left-hander. I think this can help Sandor because when he looks best, an aggressive boxer is going for him is when his defense is seen,” explains Kiko. Javi highlights the size: “Puello is a left-hander with long arms, but I think it can be won. Sandor has to win every assault because the fight will surely be long. If you have to decide, to be in the last assaults.” Gabriel is the one who gets the most: “Puello is a long guy who is not very orthodox, but ours has resources and experience. You have to be prudent, but I think Sandor is a favorite.”
## The first World Cup
Kiko Martínez took the title (IBF Supergallo) in its premiere in a fight of this caliber, which took place in Atlantic City against Jhonathan Romero: “The Combat Week I stopped interviews and everything, I forgot about the world and focused on my fight. Or he won by Ko or there was no other, I knew that day I had to win before the limit,” says Martínez. Javi Castillejo was able to do it at home, although against an American star: “I had the fight in Spain, but against the American champion and you had to win well because Mullings came from knocking out Terry Norris. Luckily you can do it here because there was a television that opted for it. The reality is that without a television a World Cup cannot be done in Spain. It takes a TV push to make this explode and the rest of the countries take us into account,” says the ‘lynx’. Gabriel Campillo saw them in Argentina with Hugo Hernan Garay and won by majority decision: “Fighting outside you have to make it very clear to the judges,” he says.
## The champion status
In what the three monarchs coincide, it is in the multiple benefits of being champion, although ‘the feeling’ warns that you do not have to come very high: “Being champion changes your life, but you have to have your feet on the floor because they get on the sky and then you can fall if you believe the king of the world. You have to remain humble.” Castillejo acknowledges that for a Spaniard the new status is an even greater impulse: “Life changes you better because you achieve something super difficult, even more even being Spanish because here boxing is not like in other countries. If you win the doors open to do even bigger things.” Campillo speaks without tapujos: “Your income changes dramatically. And then I earn in confidence because you not only make the dream of your life come true, but that being a champion tells you that you are the best in your category. You begin to be another boxer because this gives you a plus,” he says. Hopefully, Sandor joins the club this week.
