"Cannonball" Eddie Martin (1903-1966) became the World Bantamweight Champion on December 19, 1924, in a close fifteen round split decision against Abe Goldstein at New York's Madison Square Garden.

[3] Hoping originally to play baseball as a short stop in the Major Leagues, Martin quit high school before graduation to pursue a professional career in the ring, against the wishes of his father.

Eddie was the sixth of nine sons and five daughters of father Giustino Martino, who managed his large Italian family with his wife in Brooklyn, New York.

On December 19, 1924, Martin won the World Bantamweight Title against Abe Goldstein in a split decision in fifteen rounds before an impressive crowd of around 13,000 at New York's Madison Square Garden.

Though both boxers, particularly Martin, showed aggressiveness in the bout, one newspaper noted "Goldstein weakened toward the end, and it was only by dint of holding that he saved himself from the Cannonballs's rushes."

[11] Goldstein's trainer Ray Arcel believed that his fighter's dominance in the first six rounds, particularly the third when he knocked down Martin, should have been enough for a decision, but he admitted that the fight was close.

The Press observed that "although the former champion (Goldstein) was not seriously hurt by the fighting, he was unable to return it in any measure and constantly looped his fingers about his opponent's arms to save himself punishment.

On November 29, 1923, and January 28, 1924, Martin had defeated Rosenberg, in close decisions on points, both times in New York's Madison Square Garden.

[15] Eddie Martin finally lost the World Bantamweight Title to Jewish boxer Charlie "Phil" Rosenberg in a fifteen round unanimous decision on March 20, 1925, in Madison Square Garden.

[16] The Palm Beach Post noted that Rosenberg won using a "tantalizing left jab and a right uppercut, outboxing Martin at every turn and at the latter part of the match, holding his own in a furious toe-to-toe skirmish.

The Alton Evening Telegraph wrote that "Morgan saved his crown by a brilliant rally in the fifteenth that had Martin groggy as the final bell ended the milling.

[2] On August 28, 1931, Martin fought lightweight champion Al Singer at Coney Island Stadium losing quickly in a second round technical knockout before a substantial but not enormous crowd of four thousand.