Coming up Saturday night in San Bernadino, CA, Lester Marrinez gets ready to battle fellow contender Immanuwel Aleem for the WBC's interim super middleweight crown.
There may not be a full world championship at stake, but the Saturday night clash between Lester Martinez and Immanuwel Aleem still carries major significance. The two meet for the vacant WBC interim super middleweight title in the main event of the ProBoxTV card Saturday night in San Bernadino, CA airing on their YouTube with the card beginning at 7 p.m. ET.
The 30 year old Martinez, 19-0-1, 16 KOs, enters the bout following a hard-fought draw against Christian Mbilli in a thrilling contest for the interim title last September. That bout took place on the undercard headlined by Canelo Alvarez and Terence Crawford eventually won by Crawford. However, Crawford retired in December and Mbilli was elevated to full WBC champion, leaving Martinez to pursue the interim strap, once again, rather than getting a rematch.
Further for Martinez, the stakes go beyond just an interim world title belt. A victory would make him the first fighter from Guatemala to claim any version of a world championship. Despite the magnitude, Martinez insists he’s driven more by motivation than pressure.
He said at the final press conference for the fight,
“I have a lot to win. I have a lot to lose,. I’m not feeling too much pressure, just motivation.”
“After the last fight, my fans expect a lot from me,” Martinez, continued. “Regardless of how I win, I want to do well. We know what’s at stake. I’m well prepared. I’m fighting a guy with a lot of experience. I have a lot of experience myself and I’m ready to win.”
Hear insider Dan Rafael preview this fight further with me off the "Big Fight Weekend Preview Podcast," by clicking play below,
Aleem 22-3-3, 14 KOs, is 32 and hails from Richmond, Virginia, comes in as the underdog but isn’t fazed by that label. Fresh off his ninth-round knockout of Demond Nicholson in July, Aleem has confidence.
He said in the final presser,
“We know who we’re going up against,” Aleem said. “I don’t understand what an underdog is. I can fight. I can see. And I’ve got hands. I’ve trained to the best of my ability, and I’m going to go out there and execute.
“Just follow the game plan (from his father/trainer Omar Aleem), execute and gain the (interim) world title. Perform. Martinez is my main focus. Whatever he brings to the table, I need to be better at Saturday night. Whatever I need to do, do it. Do what we’ve been training for.”
The 168 lb. division is certainly in flux. And, with both fighters determined and confident, the bout promises intrigue high stakes—interim title or not.