It’s been a long time since Cordova’s Leanna Martinez was able to celebrate after leaving the ring.
After starting her pro boxing career by winning the first four fights, beginning in 2017, Martinez came up empty in her next five bouts, including a tough, unanimous decision defeat to Maryguenn Vellinga in November in her return to the ring after a nearly three-year absence.
But all that is in the past now after a second round knockout Saturday of Tarrethia Dixon in the “Cold War 6” boxing event at the Ohkay Hotel Casino.
“It felt good,” Martinez said. “I felt like the last fight was closer than it was scored. This one really felt good to get that win. I was on a losing streak for some time. Five fights. It was good to finally see my hard work paid off. I put so much time and energy into training and it felt good to have my hard work pay off.”
The win evens her record at 5-5 and whets her appetite for more.
“I don’t know exactly what’s next,” she said. “I’m going to keep training and be ready for what’s to come, a fight soon. Hopefully, I get to fight a couple more times this year.”
But Martinez had her mind focused on this fight before looking too far ahead.
“Right now, I was focused on this fight,” she said. “I’m focused on one fight at a time. Maybe (this) week, I’ll start talking about what’s next and see what we’re going to do. But I’m ready for whatever comes. I’m ready to start training again (Monday).”
Martinez came out of the fight relatively unscathed, with only a bump on her head as a visible reminder of her ring time.
“And I think that came from a head butt,” she said with a chuckle. “She was throwing big, huge haymakers with all her power,” she said. “She was trying to take me out immediately. I did my best to try and block them. They were wild so they came from everywhere. I’m sure some of them landed but I tried my best to block them.”
Martinez was able to throw enough punches that she forced Dixon into a standing seven-count in the first round.
“The first round, she came out wild and strong,” Martinez said. “And I just followed the game plan, stay composed and throw when I had a chance.”
Once Dixon got worn down a bit, Martinez went to work.
“She was real tall, so I was trying to work my way inside,” she said. “I tried to get in. Once I got inside, she started holding me, but once I started landing, she stopped holding and I was able to stop her. I wanted to box instead of brawl but sometimes I kind of lose my temper and I start brawling.”
Keeping her composure was tough, but it’s something Martinez has been working on.
“It was hard and it was a lot of practice,” she said. “We worked on it a lot in training. I have to keep reminding myself. There was a point in the first round, when she first came out real strong, I landed a punch and I was going for it and she was still coming in hard, I had to stop myself and think block inside of brawl. I really had to talk myself down. But I was able to control myself.”
By round two, however, most of the fight had gone out of Dixon and Martinez quickly got her pinned against the ropes and then her power and speed came out as she pummeled her opponent relentlessly until the ref called it.
“I was throwing jabs at the body and I pressed her to the ropes,” Martinez said. “And once I got on her on the ropes, I just didn’t stop until the ref stopped it.”
The sold out crowd and the raucous atmosphere of her fans spurred her, she said.
“I think it was even louder than the last time,” Martinez said. “It was just so crazy. When I walked in there, it’s electric. During the fight, I zone out, but after the fight, it was crazy. I’m so lucky to have the fans and community support. Española and Northern New Mexico, Cordova, Chimayó. All over. It’s insane the support I have from everybody. I love it and I’m so grateful for it. Even people there in the crowd said they never heard the crowd get so loud. They’re amazed about how crazy the crowd gets for me.”