Ottumwa’s Marts stopped by Chavez

COURIER SPORTS STAFF

August 07, 2008 11:23 am

— LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Ottumwa’s Jeremy Marts took on Omar Chavez last Saturday night in Las Vegas on the undercard of the Zab Judah/Joshua Clottey title fight at the Palms Hotel and Casino.
Chavez is the middle son of legendary boxer and six-time world champ Julio Cesar Chavez.
Chavez sent Marts to the canvas in the light welterweight bout at the 2:44 mark of the first round on an uppercut. Referee Vic Drakullich stopped the fight via technical knockout.
It was Marts’ first fight in over two years since he defeated John Roby by unanimous decision in the six-round fight in Manchester, Iowa in 2006.
Marts, 31, is now 4-2 in his professional career. Chavez, 18, moved his record to an undefeated mark of 11-0-1, nine by way of knockout.
“Not the outcome I was looking for, but I still had a great time,” said Marts.
Marts, a three-time Iowa Golden Gloves champ, will next be in action on Aug. 16 at Roccos Cantina in Centerville in a 135-pound mixed-martial arts tournament. Then Marts will be back in the boxing ring to take on a National Golden Gloves champ in Terrance Crawford. Crawford, from Omaha, will battle Marts on Aug. 22 at the Johnson County Fairgrounds in Iowa City.