By Rick Reeno

BoxingScene.com was advised by Lou DiBella, promoter for WBC middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, that HBO is going to make the final call on Martinez's next opponent. DiBella has already reserved the date of March 12 at the WaMu Theater in New York's Madison Square Garden. The three opponents under consideration are WBC interim-champion Sebastian Zbik, WBO 154-pound champion Sergei Dzinziruk, and once-beaten Andy Lee.

"Those are the three guys we are looking at. At the end of the day, it's HBO call on who Sergio fights next," DiBella told BoxingScene.com. "We made a commitment to Madison Square Garden to bring Sergio there on March 12. I believe we'll make a deal in the next few days with HBO."

BoxingScene has heard that two rival networks, one of them a new player looking to enter the boxing industry, are trying to lure Martinez away from HBO. DiBella refused to issue a comment.

"I have no comment on that subject. I'm confident that we'll reach a deal with HBO," DiBella said.