Double victory for Stan the Man

7-23-10 | By John J. Raspanti

Rising star Stan Martyniouk was victorious twice tonight first winning his 10th consecutive professional fight, and then revealing that he signed an exclusive contract with Goossen Tudor Promotions. Martyniouk took on tough Jonathon Bobadilla in a four rounder that had been originally scheduled for six but due to television and time was shortened to four.

Martyniouk was ready “Our plan was break him down after four rounds…I felt real good…I could have gone 8 or 10 rounds easy…I was breaking him down with body shots”

Martyniouk dominated from the get go using his speed and combination punching. Bobadilla (now 4-3 2 KOs ) kept trying by throwing looping punches at his elusive opponent. Every time the much shorter Bobadilla would rush in, Martynoiuk would tag him with a body shot or uppercut. Stan admitted that he might have been trying too hard for a knockout. The fight most probably been stopped if it had gone past four rounds.

“Yeah…I was feeling the pressure to score a knockout, I know I was hurting him”.

The fact that Martynoiuk has now signed with Goosen Promotions is a significant development for a fighter who has been without serious management for some time now.

“I feel real good about it” replied Stan.

And he should, the Goossen’s know how to handle young talent (see Andre Ward) and it should be fascinating to watch Martynoiuk grow under the tutelage of trainer Joe Goossen.

Martyniouk’s next fight will be either on the undercard of Chris Arreola matchup with Manuel Quezada on August 13th or the September 25th Super Six tussle between Andre Ward and Andre Dirrell.

Martyniouk Outclasses Martinez!

11-21-09 | By Ramon Aranda

Stan Martyniouk showed athletic ability and accurate combination punching with a lopsided decision win over the iron-chinned journeyman

Anthony Martinez (21-24-3, 9 KOs). Martinez as usual withstood the punches but was obviously outclassed as Stan 'The Man' made it look easy in there. Martinez gave it his all but he ate way too many punches and didn't give many in return as Martyniouk took home the win via scores of 40-36 (three times).

Interview with Super Featherweight Prospect Stan Martyniouk

08-06-09 | By Mario Ortega Jr.

This Friday night at the Red Lion Hotel in Sacramento, California, former amateur star Stan Martyniouk will hope to continue his rise to stardom in a six-round super featherweight bout. Martyniouk (6-0, 1 KO) of Sacramento, once the second-ranked amateur at 132 pounds by USA Boxing, has quickly developed into an exciting professional. Martyniouk recently took time out to discuss his upcoming fight with 15rounds.com.

How has training been going for your upcoming fight?

Training has been going really well. I am feeling a lot stronger and more powerful. I have been sitting down more on my punches. I feel really confident right now.

Who have you been sparring with?

I have been sparring with Adam Fiel, a top amateur at 132 pounds, at the Mateen Boxing Club in Sacramento. I have sparred with some other guys in Sacramento, including Mike Ortega and some MMA guys that train with Urijah Faber. Usually we go down to Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym to get sparring, but since the fight is here locally, we decided to stay in Sacramento.

Have you found out yet who your opponent will be?

I still don’t know who he will be. This is the second fight in a row that I don’t know who my opponent is. June 12th the same thing happened and he ended up not passing his physical and the fight was called off. I haven’t fought in four months and I really need to get one as soon as possible, so I really hope they are able to get an opponent.

You have had a few fights fall out this year, has that been at all discouraging?

Absolutely. I don’t think it would be as much of a problem had this not happened in my last fight. But it is difficult because I have been training hard for the last four months, but I still don’t know if this fight will happen or not and all of that training could be wasted.

Earlier in the year, your promoter Steven Bash of Bash Boxing told 15rounds.com that the plan was to move you along on regional shows this year and unveil you nationally in 2010. Is that still the plan for you?

Well I haven’t been as busy as we have wanted to be. I was hoping I would be 10-0 by now, but hopefully we can finish out the year strong and break out nationally next year.

Throughout your first few fights you have had several opponents in trouble, but have managed just one knockout thus far. Is that a sign that you are adapting to the pro style or that your opponents just have had solid chins?

All of my fights should have been knockouts. I had them all hurt, but the problem was that I had hand trouble. I fractured my hand in my first pro fight and I have never had them at 100 percent in any of my fights. Now I can feel the difference. My hands are healthy and my punches are a lot stronger. Before I would get my opponents in trouble, but I just couldn’t put them away because of my hands. After my sixth fight I had a wrist problem. So we started wrapping my hands a lot better in training. Before I would just wrap my hands in the gym, but now I have someone else do it for me and they are far more taken care of and feeling a lot stronger. I feel I have much more power in both hands and I have even dropped a couple guys in sparring. I am looking forward to testing my power in the ring.

Should an opponent be lined up as expected, you will be back fighting in front of your hometown crowd on Friday. What can the Sacramento boxing fans expect to see from you at the Red Lion Hotel?

I am really excited to get back in the ring. I have a mix of speed and power. It is an exciting style to watch. They are going to see a new star in boxing and a future world champion.

A New Model Of Fighter Has Evolved

06-10-09

How did you get started in boxing, Stan?

In 2009, as we now see the first generation of post-Soviet children assimilate and mature in the United States, another model of professional fighter has evolved. This new fighter was born in the former Soviet Union with roots in the Soviet boxing system, but raised in the United States. One such fighter who is leading this new generation is Stan “The Man” Martyniouk. Born in Tallinn (now Estonian capital), but raised in Sacramento, California since the age of 5, Martyniouk has taken the best of both worlds to become one of boxing’s notable prospects.

I believe boxing was in my blood. I grew up, pretty much, in the gym. My father, grandfather, and uncles were amateur boxers in the Soviet Union. And as a little kid growing up, whatever you’re around, you’re going to want to try it. You see your father, and you kind of want to do what he does. So I was always in the gym, and when I turned 14, I was like, “Hey, let me give it a try.” I tried it out, I liked it, and my dad thought I had a good style, even though I didn’t know anything (laughs.) He told me, “Let’s see where we can go with this,” and it has worked out ever since.

You are Russian but you have a decorated amateur career as an American, being ranked #2 in the country at one time and representing the U.S. all over the world. Have you ever felt conflicted in what country you fought for?

A lot of the guys on Team U.S.A. were from different cultures and some weren’t born here but were raised here for most of their lives. That’s what America is all about. I have Russian blood but I grew up in American boxing gyms. I was happy to travel the world, fight against the best fighters in the world, and win boxing championships and gold medals for the United States. But I don’t forget where I come from either. And I feel having both backgrounds has made me a more complete fighter.

Have you been back to Russia?

Yes, I went to Moscow for the 2005 World Cup. A lot of my family showed up that I hadn’t ever seen before, some of them live in Moscow now, and some of my family from Estonia showed up. They took me back to one of their places in Moscow, got to see some new family, told me some of the history when I was little and what my uncle, father, and grandfather did. It was an awesome experience.

You are now undefeated, winning 6 times in your first 6 professional bouts since turning pro in 2007. How has your career been progressing?

At first I wasn’t fighting as often as I wanted and promoters and matchmakers were telling me that opponents were turning me down because they heard about my good amateur background. But recently things have been better. I signed with Steve Bash and have been fighting more often against tougher opponents. Every fight is a learning process to try and become the best fighter in the world.

How is your training going for your upcoming fight?

Good. I always train real hard. I am finishing my training up here in Sacramento and will spend one week in L.A. training at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Gym. It’s a great place to train because of the professional atmosphere and all of the great fighters that are there to spar with. Freddie Roach joked that I was too good looking to be a fighter when he first saw me but I hope to keep going back to Wild Card and showing everyone that I am one of the best fighters in the world.

What should people expect from you in your next fight in Glendale on June 12th?

Once people see me, my style and the way I fight, I think they’ll fall in love with me. And I think I’ll get a lot of new fans in Glendale. I bring both the best of the old school Soviet boxing and some of the flash of U.S. boxing.

MARTYNIOUK ADDED IN GLENDALE!

05-21-09

Undefeated former amateur star Stan “The Man” Martyniouk (6-0, 1 KO) has been added to the historic “Glendale Glory” boxing show on June 12 at the Glendale Civic Auditorium. Stan The Man is coming off a six round unanimous decision over Jovann Jones (9-4, 4 KOs) on March 27th. The former Team U.S.A. member and #2 ranked amateur lightweight in the U.S. in 2005, Martyniouk joins fellow Bash Boxing stablemates Dean “Irish Lightning” Byrne (10-0, 4 KOs), “Mad” Max Skayzer (6-0-1, 1KO), and 23-year-old Heavyweight prospect Andrey “The Russian Bear” Fedosov (19-1, 15KOs) on the card, which is presented by Art of Boxing Promotions in association with Bash Boxing, and is the first professional boxing show following a 62-year-old ban on boxing in the City of Glendale. Tickets to can be purchased online by going to www.glendaleglory.com or by calling 818-521-2373 or 213-700-2274. Doors Open at 7pm, First Bout is at 8pm.

MARTYNIOUK DEFEATS JONES

By Francisco Salazar

Lightweight Stan Martyniouk (6-0, 1 KO) remained unbeaten with a six round unanimous decision over Jovann Jones (9-5, 4 KOs). The quicker Jones began the bout strong as he utilized his speed to overwhelm Martyniouk. However, Martyniouk would go to the body with hard left hooks that began to slow Jones down. Martyniouk finished strong as he dropped Jones once in the fifth and again in the sixth round. All three judges scored the bout 60-52, 59-53, and 58-54 in favor of Martyniouk.

MARTYNIOUK AT QUIET CANNON MARCH 27TH

By Mario Ortega Jr.

Promising Sacramento-based former amateur star Stan Martyniouk (5-0, 1 KO) will return to the ring on March 27th at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, California. Martyniouk is coming off of a one-sided four-round decision over Scott Furney on February 14th in Reno, Nevada.

Martyniouk recently signed with promoter Steve Bash of Bash Boxing. “I am very proud to have Stan Martyniouk a part of Bash Boxing,” said Bash. “Stan represents a new generation of fighter that is uniquely fortunate to have both the old school roots of Eastern European training from his Russian father and the experience of growing up in U.S. boxing gyms and the U.S. Olympic amateur system. At a very young age, Stan already takes the best of both worlds into the professional ring with him and I believe that is a great formula for success.”

Martyniouk will be moving up to the six-round distance on March 27th as he takes on Jovann Jones (9-4, 4 KOs) of Arapahoe, North Carolina in a lightweight bout. The bout with Jones figures to be another step in the developmental process for the young prospect. “The goal right now is for Stan to continue to mature on the local club show circuit and then introduce him to national audiences in 2010,” announced Bash.

Tickets for the event, promoted by All Star Boxing, will be made available online at AllStarBoxing.net.

STAN “THE MAN” TAKES HIS SHOW TO RENO

02-10-09 | By Joey Sosa

For his next fight Stan Martyniouk, the Sacramento-based fighter, punches his way into Reno, Nevada. If you want to get a ticket, get it fast. Stan The Man’s boxing career has touched fans all over the world.

At only 23 years of age, Stan “The Man” Martyniouk has already compiled an impressive resume, ranging from a highly successful amateur career, to a number of gold medals for Team U.S.A. on the international level, and to a now young, but blossoming professional career. Growing up with the sweet science in his blood, as he says, in Estonia, where his father, grandfather, and uncle were fighters, boxing was nothing more or less than a destiny for Stan “The Man”.

After jump-starting to a 4-0 professional record and establishing himself as one of the premier young prospects California has to offer, Martyniouk makes his Nevada debut in Reno at the Reno Events Center on February 14th. I had the opportunity to talk with Stan about not only his upcoming fight, but also his outlook on what he and many critics consider a bright future ahead.

Joey Sosa: Stan, you’ve had a great amateur career, to say the least. You’re 23 years old, 4-0 since turning pro. They’re calling you one of the West Coast’s hottest young boxing prospects. How does it feel to finally make your pro debut in such a big fight town like Reno?

Stan Martyniouk: It feels great, because there’s going to be a lot of hometown fans who are coming up to see the fight. I heard it’s going to be a really big show and, you know, I’m ready, ready to step up and fight in a different atmosphere, and on a bigger stage. I’m really excited.

JS: The event’s being promoted by Chet Koerner and TKO Boxing Promotions… When did they come in contact with you? How did this whole opportunity come up?

SM: Well, it came up through a mutual friend, actually, who at the time was contacting one of the matchmakers of TKO, Chris Middendorf, who said that it would be very good for them if they added me to their show. They were very excited when they heard that I wanted to fight on the show, and later I got a call, and they said they put me on the undercard, and were very excited to have me on.

JS: I’ve been reading around and I can’t seem to find any info on your opponent. Mind filling us in?

SM: Well, we actually just talked to the matchmaker today. They’re looking for the opponent right now – there’s a few of them, they just have to get in contact with them and figure out which one’s going to be my opponent, and hopefully we’ll find out later this week, in a few days.

JS: How’s the training process been then, not knowing who you’re going to fight?

SM: Well, that’s fine, I’m used to it, you know, from the amateurs, when I never really knew who I was fighting until the weekend [of the fight]. So, right now it doesn’t really matter, I’m training hard for any style and whoever they put me against, I’m ready. I’m in L.A. at Wild Card finishing up on hard training this week with some great guys, some great training partners. So, the experience is really great. I’m training hard, running hard here, and getting in some good sparring. I’m going to be ready for February 14th.

JS: Just rewinding a bit: You grew up around the sport of boxing. Your father, uncle, and grandfather were fighters, and I’m sure you know, as your family must’ve told you, a fighter’s road isn’t an easy one. At what point did it hit you that, truly in your heart of hearts, this is what you wanted to do?

SM: I believe this was in my blood. I grew up, pretty much, in the gym. My father was boxing, and as a little kid growing up, whatever you’re around, you’re going to want to try it. You see your father, and you kind of want to do what he does. So I was always in the gym, and when I turned 14, I was like, “Hey, let me give it a try.” I was going into high school and a lot of my friends were choosing different sports, and I wanted to do something different. Instead of basketball, football, baseball, or wrestling, I thought I’d give boxing a try. I tried it out, I liked it, and my dad thought I had a good style, even though I didn’t know anything (laughs.) He told me, “Let’s see where we can go with this”, and it worked out ever since.

JS: And at that point, you were in the States?

SM: Yeah, I was here in the States. I came here when I was about five years old. It’s very hard to remember, but I did get a few memories back when I went to Moscow for the 2005 World Cup. A lot of my family showed up that I hadn’t ever seen before, some of them live in Moscow now, and some of my family from Estonia showed up. They took me back to one of their places in Moscow, got to see some new family, told me some of the history when I was little and what my uncle, father, and grandfather did. It was an awesome experience.

JS: Branching off the World Cup – you’ve had quite a number of achievements over the course of your young career. NorCal Boxer of the Year, ranked #2 best amateur lightweight in 2005, all the gold’s you’ve won on the international stage; out of all these accomplishments so far, which are you most proud of?

SM: Wow… well, I guess it all started when I made Team U.S.A. I think that was the highlight of my amateur career. If I didn’t train hard, if I didn’t make the team, none of those [memories] would have happened. I wouldn’t have gotten to travel to all the different places I went to. If you train hard, anything can happen. That gave me more motivation to be in boxing, after Team U.S.A. I trained harder, I set more goals for myself, and one of them was to turn pro and become a world champion. I beat one of the best fighters in the world; I fought a lot of top fighters, and defeated them. That gave me a lot of confidence, that I could be a world champion one day.

JS: A lot of people feel the same. You know there’s so much talk about boxing being on a slump, that the excitement and interest isn’t quite at the place it was a few years back. A lot actually criticize that there’s a lack of rising young stars. Now, here’s a guy like you: a young, talented, charismatic fighter. How do you think you can contribute to boost the popularity of the sport you love?

SM: Well, I think I bring something different to the table, and I think that’s what a lot of fans and critics want. They’re tired of seeing the same thing. They want something different. And, you know with me, I have a very exciting style. Plus, I’d say I’m a good kid. I was raised good, I finished high school, had a good education, and I think I’d be a good role model for kids and the next generation as well. I really think I can help get interest back into boxing once I get national exposure. Once I’m on TV, once people see me, my style and the way I fight, I think they'll fall in love with me, and I think I’ll get in a lot of new fans.

JS: You mention being a role model for kids and, growing up around the sport as you did, what fighters did you grow up looking up to? Who did you model yourself after?

SM: Well, the very first fight I actually saw, it’s crazy, was Floyd Mayweather against Angel Manfredy. That was the first boxing fight I had actually watched, as the whole fight. I had watched boxing earlier with my dad, but that was the first time I actually paid attention. After watching that fight, I became a big fan of Floyd Mayweather. I always wanted to fight like him because he was a smart fighter, he had a really good style, and he always walked out of the fight with no bruises and no cuts. You know, you want to have a career and a life after boxing, that’s how I look at it. I don’t want to go into boxing, to see who has the hardest head. I want to go in there and be smart, and beat my opponents with intelligence.

JS: That about wraps things up. Thanks so much for your time, Stan. I wish you the best of luck, not only for this fight, but for the rest of your career. I really do think you have a bright future ahead of you. Keep it up, hope to see more of you soon.

SM: Thanks, thanks.I hope you guys at FlashKnockdown. com can get to follow my career closely, because a lot of big things will be happening soon. Hopefully you guys will get to see me on T.V. soon, and when you do, I’m going to bring a lot to the table.

STAN THE MAN WINS, ANOTHER DOMINATING PERFORMANCE!

08-04-08 | By Mario Ortega Jr.

Crowd favorite Sacramento lightweight prospect Stan Martyniouk (4-0, 1 KO) completely dominated Terrance Jett (3-11-2, 1 KO) of Las Vegas, Nevada over four rounds to score a unanimous decision. Martyniouk, 133, was the busier and stronger fighter, clearly winning every round. Jett, 135, seemed in danger of being stopped in the third. Martyniouk rocked him with a straight left, followed by a right hook. With Jett stunned, Martyniouk landed a hellacious series of hooks along the ropes. Martyniouk closed out the fourth in much the same fashion, taking every round on the judges' scorecards with scores of 40-36.

Fight report provided by 15Rounds.com
Mario Ortega Jr. can be reached at ortega15rds@lycos.com

STAN THE MAN SCORES A DEVASTATING 1ST ROUND KNOCKOUT!

05-16-08

Sacramento's Stan Martyniouk (3-0, 1 KO) notched his first professional knockout with an eye-opening 30 second destruction of Matt Mahler (0-1) of Stockton, California in a super featherweight contest scheduled for four rounds. Mahler, trained by former Sacramento heavyweight Gilbert Martinez, came out aggressively to open the bout, which ended up playing right into Martyniouk's hands. After blocking most of his opponent's wild flurry with his gloves, Martyniouk, 132, backed him up with a combination of his own. With Mahler, 130 ½, in retreat, Martyniouk stepped forward with a right hook that ended matters less than a minute into the bout. The half minute performance falls just short of the Red Lion Hotel record for quickest knockout, accomplished by Martyniouk's former amateur teammate Brandon Gonzales with a 22 second kayo in February.

Fight report provided by 15rounds.com

STAN THE MAN WINS HIS 2ND PRO FIGHT!

02-08-08

In the opening fight of the night, highly touted local super featherweight prospect Stan Martyniouk (2-0) scored an impressive four-round unanimous decision over rugged Jesus Hernandez (2-2, 2 KOs) of Riverside, California. Martyniouk, 129, of nearby Antelope, took control from the opening bell. The shorter Hernandez, 129, came forward for most of the night, but his looping shots played right into the quick-handed Martyniouk's strengths. He was able to control the first round by popping his jab and darting in and out of range. A straight right, followed by a quick combination knocked Hernandez off balance late in the round. Hernandez came out with more intensity in the second and was able to pressure Martyniouk on the ropes early in the round. Just when it looked that Hernandez may have the round, Martyniouk unleashed a left hook that sent him to the canvas. Hernandez rose to his feet and the bell ended the round just seconds later. Hernandez did some good work again in the third, but once again was caught hard coming in and found himself on the canvas. The game Hernandez continued to come forward in the fourth and landed a few looping shots while Martyniouk covered up. Martyniouk opened up late in the round with a combination and a straight right that finally got Hernandez to back up. Martyniouk was announced as the winner of a unanimous decision, the scores were not read. 15rounds.com scored it a shutout, 40-34. After the bout Martyniouk, who narrowly missed making the Olympic team, mentioned that he hopes to fight again at the end of the month.

MARTYNIOUK WINS PRO DEBUT!

10-19-07

In the final bout of the evening at the Feather falls casino in Oroville, CA, Sacramento-based former amateur standout Stan Martyniouk (1-0) made his pro debut after having a successful amatuer career to win a tougher than expected decision over Gerardo Robles (2-7) of Topanga, California in a four round bout. Martyniouk flashed his hand speed and defense that made him the second ranked amateur in the United States at 132 pounds. Robles was tough and awkward which seemed to attribute to the headbutts he received, however it was Martyniouk who was deducted a point in the third round but came back with vicious power shots that had Robles stunned and almost out. When the rough and tumble fight was over Martyniouk camout victorious with the decision. Martyniouk narrowly missed making the Olympic Trials after fighting to a 16-16 tie with Antton Slaughter at the U.S. Championships in June. The electronic scoring system gave Slaughter the tie-breaking victory based on total punches. Martyniouk contemplated fighting for his native Estonia, but the politics of amateur boxing made him decide to turn pro.

Amateur boxer plans to make crossover in Reno. By Steve Sneddon

Right about now, Stan Martyniouk expected to be getting ready for October's World Amateur Boxing Championships in Chicago, with the hope of getting to the Beijing Olympics.

He was convinced he could make it to the Olympics, either boxing for the United States, where he and his family immigrated to when he was five years old, or for Estonia, where he was born. Martyniouk, from Antelope, Calif. (near Sacramento), missed getting to the U.S. Olympic Trials by the thinnest of margins. When his shot to box for Estonia became bogged down in politics, he looked toward the pros.

The 22-year-old junior lightweight will be making his pro debut against Ronald Hurley of San Jacinto, Calif., on a card headed by the Joey Gilbert- Charles Howe middleweight main event at the Grand Sierra Resort on Friday night. Martyniouk seemed to be poised to go to the U.S. Olympics Trials. But after he had battled Antton Slaughter to a 16-16 tie in the U.S. Championships at Colorado Springs in June, Martyniouk lost on a tiebreaker of total punches, according to electronic scoring.

"They said he threw six more punches. I thought I won hands down. My corner thought I won hands down," Martyniouk said. "I guess they weren't counting most of the shots I was landing. I almost had the guy knocked out in the last round.

"It was a heartbreaker. My goal was to get the Olympics box-offs because I had beat most of the guys in my weight division, all of the top guys. I knew I had a pretty good chance to make the Olympic Team. That loss really disappointed me, but now we're looking ahead to becoming a world champion in the professional ranks."

As an amateur, he was ranked No. 2 in the U.S. at 132 pounds. He boxed internationally for the U.S. against South Korea in Reno, and also boxed against Russia, Mexico and Ireland, compiling a great amateur record. Estonia had invited him to box for it in the World Championships, but balked because of his U.S. National Team appearances, and he decided to turn pro rather than endure the controversy.

Nicknamed "Stan the Man," he's literally a giant among 130 pounders at 5-foot-10, but hasn't had trouble making the weight. He's enough of a giant, also figuratively, that when Joey Gilbert Promotions matchmaker Chris Middendorf tried to find an opponent for him, managers and trainers backed away when they heard their fighters would fight Martyniouk.

"My trainer (Seifudeen Mateen) told me a lot of top amateurs, they can be researched, they'll have trouble getting fights in the pros," Martyniouk said. "People know you around the nation."

Because no one wanted to put a fighter making his pro debut into a fight against Martyniouk, Hurley, who has a 1-3-2 record, steps in.

"We're looking to get there with whoever they put in front of me, take care of business, win and put on a good show," Martyniouk said. "My style, people always said I had a really good pro style. I did pretty good with my style in the amateurs, but I think I'll do even better in the pros."

He wants to get into boxing's fast lane to accelerate his drive to a world championship.

"Hopefully, we could get four or five fights this year and we're looking to get about 10 fights next year," he said. "We just want to keep me busy. I'm used to fighting all the time in the amateurs. In the pros we have to be more careful, but we want to stay busy.

"We're going to move me pretty quick. I'm guessing three years (to a win a world title), maybe. I've sparred with world champions such as Juan Manuel Marquez and Stevie Forbes. I've been in with world champions, some of the best. It's just a matter of time for me to get there."

Going into the pros, Martyniouk is bringing his amateur coach of four years, Mateen, to be his trainer. Often, top amateurs turning pro jettison their coach and replace him with a pro trainer.

"We had a struggle, but we've actually been able to maintain a solid team," Mateen said. "When you've got a young boxer coming out rated so high in the amateurs you have a lot of people in his ears (making offers).

"You basically rely on the things you taught him in terms of moral principles and trust. You couldn't ask for any more (loyalty from a boxer). He had a good family upbringing. That helps him."

Mateen said Martyniouk has adapted well to the pro style and has increased his punching power 30 to 40 percent through extensive strength training.

"It's cliche-ish to say we're going to win a world title. Everybody says it, but they're not willing to put the time in," Mateen said. "Handled right and taking a conservative approach, he should be knocking on the championship door in three years."

Martyniouk already has shown he can market himself, designing and maintaining his own web site, stanmartyniouk.com, for a year.

"That shows where he's at," Mateen said. "That's a good lead-in, doing a little self-promotion. He's creative in his thinking. Hopefully, we can transfer that into his boxing. He's very charismatic."

Martyniouk is turning amateur heartbreak into a way to make a living in boxing.