Otha B. Martin receives the Life Time Achievement Award for his long dedication to boxing, Otha B. Martin Jr., will receive the
Life Time Achievement Award from the Ohio State Former Boxers And Associates, lnc.

While starting boxing at 15 years old, Martin had an impressive amateur career. His amateur boxing career started with his childhood friend Bobby Haymon at K.Y. Benson Boystown. He was coached and trained by the late Jessie Levels and Cecil Shorts. Shorts was an up and coming young professional boxer who, went on to an outstanding welterweight 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 Ave. While training at the Big Ten Gym, Martin’s natural abilities were hamesse 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 bantamweight and featherweight divisions. Martin was born in Cleveland and he attended the Cleveland Public Schools. He graduated from Glenville High School in 1963, and he received an associates degree from Cuyahoga Community College
on June 21, 1997.

Martin retired from employment in 2008 after 43 years with Daimler-Chrysler in Twinsburg, Ohio. Martin has been married to his lovely wife, Joan, for 55 years. They have two children, Jacqueline and Otha lll. They are the proud grandparents of three granddaughters.

Martin was inducted into the Ohio State Former Boxers And Associates, Inc. Hall Of Fame in 2015.