Otha Martin inducted into Hall of Fame. While starting boxing at 15 years old, Otha Martin had an impressive amateur boxing career. His amateur boxing career started with his childhood friend Bobby Haymon at KY Benson Boystown at E. 79th Street and Woodland Avenue. He was coached and trained by the late Jessie Levels and Cecil Shorts During that time, Shorts was an up and coming young professional boxer who went on to an outstanding welterweight boxing career.

Martin’s amateur boxing career spanned a six year period during the 60’s as he was an aggressive brawler.

As a featherweight, Martin relocated his training from KY Benson Boystown to Johnny Papke’s Big Ten Gym at E. 14th Street and Carnegie Avenue. While training at the Big Ten Gym, Martin’s natural abilities were harnessed and improved by dedicated and legendary trainer, Clint Martin.

Under Clint’s guidance, Martin mastered the sweet art of boxing and learned to be humble in victory and defeat. During his boxing  career, he fought in four different weight classes: flyweight, bantamweight, featherweight, and lightweight. His record was 58 wins and 9 losses.

As a Golden Gloves participant, Martin won the novice flyweight championship and was a runner up in the open bantam and featherweight divisions during several competition years.

Martin was born in Cleveland and he attended the public school system where he graduated from Glenville High School in 1973. He earned an associate degree from Cuyahoga Community College on June 21, 1997.

He retired from employment in 2008 after 43 years with Daimler Chrysler in Twinsburg, Ohio. Martin has been married to his lovely wife, Joan, for 52 years. They have two children , Jacqueline and Otha III. They are the proud grandparents of three granddaughters.
Martin will be inducted into the Hall of Fame along with Jon
Melbar.