Filipinos score big with Martin victory

When Carl Jammes Martin scored a major upset over David Picasso, his supporters emerged victorious, too.

Martin, who entered the bout as a nearly 5-to-1 underdog, scored the biggest victory of his career, defeating Picasso by split decision on October 31 at Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia.

Despite his underdog status and predictions that he would fall short in the biggest fight of his career, players at SportsPlus, the country’s premier PAGCOR-licensed sportsbook, stood behind their fellow Filipino, with the majority picking Martin to win.

Their faith paid off as Martin secured the victory inside the ring, while his supporters also came out on top on the SportsPlus platform.

“Carl Jammes Martin’s victory is a testament to how Filipinos continue to support their fellow Filipinos, regardless of the odds,” SportsPlus head of Brand Marketing Paul Macalindong said.

Although Martin entered the fight with a better professional record than Picasso, the Mexican was still considered the favorite, as his lone defeat came at the hands of pound-for-pound king Naoya Inoue in 2025.