Jade Bornea and Argentine champion Fernando Martinez face off. -SANMAN BOXING
MANILA, Philippines—Jade Bornea won’t be lacking motivation when he faces Argentina’s Fernando Martinez on Sunday (Manila time).
Aside from trying to capture his first world title, Bornea is also keen on exacting revenge against Martinez, who dethroned another Filipino in Jerwin Ancajas last year for the IBF super flyweight belt.
“This is the most important fight of my career. I’ve sacrificed everything in the last year to earn this chance to take on the reigning champion,” Bornea said in Filipino during Friday’s final presser ahead of the Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime tripleheader at The Armory in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Bornea (18-0, 12KOs) showed he’s worthy of a title shot after delivering a pair of stunning victories last year—knocking out Mohammed Obbadi in three rounds before stopping Ivan Meneses in seven last August.
But Martinez (15-0, 8KOs), an aggressive and high volume puncher, is nothing like any other fighter Bornea has faced and it would take a lot for the pride of Cotabato del Norte to dethrone the champion.
“It’s not gonna be easy for him. It’s gonna be life or death and if you wanna beat me you’re gonna have to kill yourself inside the ring to get that belt,” Martinez said. “And for me it’s a battlefield out there, it’s a war and the fans are going to be the true winners because they’re gonna see an all out war out there.”
“You think he’s hungry? I’m hungrier. Like I said, I’m ready for war. I’m gonna put on a show. I’m gonna show that not only I’m the champion but I’m the champion who’s willing to stay for the years to come,” he added.
The 28-year-old Bornea doesn’t seem to be intimidated by Martinez’s stern warning.
“I am ready for anything that he brings during the fight because I prepared for this fight for a long time,” Bornea said.