Prospect Tommy ‘Da Gun’ Martin has been signed by Eddie Hearn and is set to make his debut under the Matchroom Sport banner at Liverpool’s Echo Arena on July 12th.
Back in April, Tommy belatedly celebrated his twentieth birthday with a superb victory over Worcester’s Michael Mooney to secure his first Championship, the British Masters Bronze Welterweight title, on just his eighth pro bout.
The incredibly mature performance, in front of a partisan pack house at the Troxy in East London, bought young Tommy to the attention of the two biggest players in British promotions field, Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren, with both promoters vying for the signature of this young future star.
Following a training session at the TRAD TKO Boxing Gym in Canning Town, an elated young Tommy spoke about the exciting development in his career,
“It’s a very exciting step in my career, moving up onto the national stage on Sky Sports televised shows.
“I think Johnny (manager Johnny Eames) has done magnificently with me on his promotions at York Hall and the Troxy and this is the next step up for us and I’m really looking forward to it.
“I can’t wait for July 12th, when I fight under the Matchroom banner for the first time at the Echo Arena, that’s a big stage for me and one I am really looking forward to.
“I’d like to say a big thanks to both Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn, firstly Frank Warren, for the offer he made me but we chose Eddie Hearn as we think it is the right move for me at this time in my career and it’s a bigger platform being on Sky Sports, which was really the main reason we chose to accept the Matchroom offer.
“I really want to thank my fans, for the great support they give me at every fight, they really are the greatest fans in the World, we’re already on target to sell over 200 tickets for my first fight under the Matchroom banner, even though it’s in Liverpool, not bad when you think I only had three weeks notice for it, so I want to thank each and every one that is coming to Liverpool to support me on July 12th.”
Manager and now former promoter of Tommy Martin, Johnny Eames then added,
“This is great news for Tommy and the team, it’s well deserved for all the work he’s put in over the eighteen months or so he’s been with us.
“Tommy shows a lot of dedication, but before I go into that I want to thank Frank Warren and Alfie Warren, for the offer of a very good contract which was so good it made it very hard to choose which way we wanted to go.
“The final decision was left down to Tommy and his dad, as it is Tommy’s career and not mine. It was a very close call, but in the end Tommy chose to go with Eddie.
“You know for me they are both world class promoters and I’m glad it was down to Tommy to choose, as I wouldn’t have wanted to been an influence in the choice, because I think each is equally as good as the other.
“Tommy chose to go with Eddie and now we’re all looking forward to Tommy fighting for the first time on a Matchroom show on July 12th on a massive bill in Liverpool.”
