Leotis Martin: 'Ten Count' Record 4-1 (4 KO) vs Ranked Top Ten Opponents -(Ring Magazine).............Martin Ranked 04/05/68..........Karl Mildenberger ......# 8......KO 2 .......Unranked 05/28/68..........Thad Spencer ............# 6......KO 9 ......Unranked 09/07/68..........Oscar Bonavena ........# 4.......L 10 .......# 6 11/26/68..........Al "Blue" Lewis ..........# 7 ......KO 9.......# 9 12/06/69..........Sonny Liston .............# 3.......KO 9 ......# 10 ......................(Vacant NABF Heavyweight Title).................... WBA 08/05/67..........Jimmy Ellis ................# 8......KO by 9 ..# 9 ......................(WBA Elimination Tournament)........................ 02/26/69..........Al "Blue" Lewis...........# 10 .....W 10......# 4
Unknown, they were both Philly based fighters. After Martin's KO over Sonny Liston, which put Sonny to sleep for a minute, Martin's career arrow was pointing up. Unfortunately for him he had a detached retina and was forced to retire. During the interview of the Liston match, Howard Cosell tried to talk about the possibility of fighting Frazier next. Martin wasn't much of a talker at all, and that is being kind. Frazier vs. Martin was a makeable fight. Martin could bang a bit so perhaps Frazier' team never considered him as an opponent, though you can't say Frazier was ducking him.
Can you just imagine had Leotis somehow beat Frazier? or Muhammad Ali?-He was still being ranked even after he'd had an eye operation and was done, A friend told me he had became a welder in Philadelphia. R.I.P. Leotis.
