Tonight, the universally recognized Middleweight Champion of the world, Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez will be the special guest on ESPN Deportes’ Viernes de Combates (the domestic Spanish version of Friday Night Fights). Martinez, who will arrive at the ESPN studios this afternoon to partake in a number of media activities prior to the Friday Night Fights telecast, will be bringing his own special guest along to accompany him, Monique McClain.
For those who don’t already know, Monique is the young teenage girl who Sergio befriended before his title fight against Serhiy Dzinziruk last March at Foxwoods in Connecticut. Monique was being so badly bullied by her classmates that her family took her out of school. Upon learning of Monique’s situation, Martinez, who is an outspoken advocate and avid supporter of ending violence against women and children, invited Monique and her family to spend some time with him prior to his title fight and to be his special guest at the fight.
The relationship between Martinez and Monique has continued to grow over the last year, with Monique spending time at that champion’s training camp in Oxnard during the preparation for his October 2011 middleweight title defense of Darren Barker as well as being ringside for each of Martinez’ last three title defenses. (Editors Note: A few months ago, Monique re-entered school and is doing better than ever.)
“Being a world champion, and being in the position I am in, one of the most important things I can do in my life is to bring awareness to society what a serious situation this is (Domestic Violence and Bullying). I am very exicted to be on ESPN Deportes, and have the opportunity to speak out about these causes to such a large audience,” said Martinez.
“I am very proud to be part of Sergio Martinez’s campaign and be able to collaborate with him on his mission to end violence against the un-defensible. Sergio continues to show that he is not only a great champion inside the ring but outside as well,” said long-time advisor Sampson Lewkowicz.
“We are thrilled that Sergio will be a guest on Viernes de Combates, the domestic Spanish version of the Friday Night Fights series, and even happier that he will get an opportunity to champion his causes of anti-bullying and anti-domestic violence. It will also be great for the domestic and international boxing viewers to meet Monique and learn what kind of champion Sergio is outside of the ring,” said promoter Lou DiBella.
It was a busy couple of days for Martinez. Just yesterday, Martinez participated in “The Y Factor – Men Leading by Example”, a national summit in San Francisco that honors men working to end violence against women and children. Other special guests at the summit included baseball legends Willie Mays and Joe Torre, Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi, Department of Justice Acting Associate Attorney General Tony West, Thomas Goetz, the Executive Editor of WIRED Magazine, and Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Joel Brinkley.
Below is a list of just some of the causes and/or organizations that Martinez is an advocate and supporter of:
– WBC Word Boxing Cares: World Champions Against Bullying
– New York City Councilwoman Julissa Ferrers, who chairs the committee on Women’s Issues and representatives from the Dominican Women’s Development Center and the Violence Intervention Program
– Federal legislation: The Violence Against Women Act (VAWA)
