By Chris Robinson

Fresh into the New Year, trainer Tony Martin is taking on a new project in the form of once-beaten junior welterweight prospect Steve Claggett.

Known best for his work with Bacolod City, Philippines native Mark Melligen in recent years, Martin sees some serious potential in the 22-year old Claggett.

“The kid is good,” Martin said as he spoke at the Mayweather Boxing Club in Las Vegas. “He hasn’t faced too many, what I call, quality fighters. But what I see in him is something special.”

Claggett originally hails from Calgary, Canada and crossed paths with Martin roughly a year ago during a visit to Las Vegas. The two men linked up again a few months back and after working with Claggett for a brief period, Martin touched bases with the fighter’s manager Eric de Guzman to see if it would make sense to bring him to the area to train for future showcases.

Martin insists that the level of sparring at Mayweather’s gym and all around the city will only benefit Claggett, who arrived to Las Vegas on the first and was seen today engaging in some spirited sessions with solid amateur prospects Lanell Bellows and Kevin Johnson. Claggett is lined up for a January 13th assignment in Calgary and after that Martin feels the wheels will be in motion to make bigger moves.

“My people in the Philippines, ALA Promotions, are very interested in him fighting for them again, knowing full well that he would be training with me in Vegas," Martin continued. "I have also approached Top Rank as well. Hopefully we can arrange a fight for him with Top Rank. Because this kid really has potential. He has the possibility of being really good.”

Martin had enjoyed a great run of success with the aforementioned Melligen, as the duo went 4-0 with two knockouts in 2010. But the ride came to a screeching halt on July 1st when the talented lefty was halted in nine rounds by hard-headed Argentinean Sebastian Lujan.

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Martin hasn’t had much correspondence with Melligen in recent months and doesn’t know for sure what the future holds.

“I don’t know what’s really going on at the moment,” said Martin with a somber tone. “The other day I was called by [Top Rank matchmaker] Brad Goodman and that he could offer Mark a fight on February the 25th in Atlantic City. But there’s some sort of, maybe unhappiness with Mark. He just hasn’t shown up in the ALA Gym, so my hands are tied. I can’t make any real comment on that.”

Despite being only 25 years old, Martin is unsure if we will even see Melligen in the ring again.

“It could be several things. I don’t know. I really can’t put a finger on it. I think he’s got some problems and maybe he’s lost that lack of concentration. At this present time I don’t know whether he’s going to return to boxing or not.”

Chris Robinson is based out of Las Vegas, Nevada. He can be reached atTrimond@aol.com