(ProBox TV)
The WBC on Thursday sanctioned Lester Martinez to fight for its vacant interim super middleweight belt versus Immanuwel Aleem in a bout that ProBoxTV will stage March 21 in San Bernardino, California.
Guatemala’s Martinez, 19-0-1 (16 KOs), visited with WBC officials in Mexico City this week, collecting his Fight of the Year trophy following his entertaining September draw versus new WBC full titleholder Christian Mbilli on the Terence Crawford-Saul ”Canelo” Alvarez card in Las Vegas.
“As president of the WBC, I am thrilled to know such an amazing young man as Lester,” Mauricio Sulaiman said in a release. “We are committed to supporting boxing and its development, worldwide.”
Ensuring that Martinez, 30, maintains an active schedule of ideally fighting every six months, ProBox founder and Martinez promoter Garry Jonas established the availability of Aleem, 22-3-3 (14 KOs), who most recently fought in July.
“I’d like to thank the WBC for granting Lester this opportunity,” said Jonas (who also owns BoxingScene). “I know it’s not easy doing their job with all the twists and turns that can take place at this level of the sport. This is a fair and reasonable outcome that Lester gets a chance to fight for the same belt he competed with Mbilli for. This is a big deal for Lester and his country. Guatemala has never had a world champion, and we’re very hopeful he can bring the belt home on March 21.”
The bout will be staged at the Orange Show Events Center, where Martinez knocked out Joeshon James in the fourth round in March.
Martinez was in a holding pattern following the December retirement of five-division and undisputed super middleweight champion Crawford, opening title vacancies among all four sanctioning bodies.
“I really thought I won the fight on September 13, and it’s been frustrating to not get a rematch with Mbilli,” Martinez said of the draw. “I very much appreciate Mauricio and the WBC Board of Governors for giving me this opportunity. It’s been my dream to be the first Guatemalan champion ever. I can’t wait for March 21.”
The WBC elevated Canada’s Mbilli, previously its interim belt holder, to full titlist, and the intention is to make his first title defense against four-division champion Alvarez in September atop a Mexican Independence Day weekend card in Saudi Arabia.
Alvarez underwent left elbow surgery in October and is skipping his traditional Cinco de Mayo…
2026-02-13 00:52:42
