Leotis Martin
| Leotis Martin | |
|---|---|
| Statistics | |
| Real name | Leotis Martin |
| Nickname(s) | Otis Lee |
| Rated at | Heavyweight |
| Height | 6 ft 0 1⁄2 in (1.84 m) |
| Reach | 76 in (193 cm) |
| Nationality |
 American |
| Born |
March 10, 1939 Helena, Arkansas |
| Died | November 20, 1995 (aged 56) Philadelphia |
| 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 The Ring's list of 100 greatest punchers of all time. His career, however, was marked by inconsistency and bad luck.
Martin was the 1960 Chicago and Intercity Golden Gloves 160-pound champion and the 1961 160-pound Intercity Golden Gloves Champion (alternate). He also was the United States National AAU 165-pound champion in 1960 and 1961.
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 ninth-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 elimination tournament, he was matched, in his 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 sneaky-fast and dangerous right hand. Although unable to knock Martin out, Ellis inflicted on the inside of Martin's mouth a nasty cut, which ultimately caused the fight to be stopped in the ninth round. Scoring was around even at that point. Many had predicted Martin might win the elimination series. Martin had campaigned for a contest with fellow Philadelphian Joe Frazier, but it never happened — mainly due to Martin's loss to Bonavena, who got the Frazier match instead.
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