By Miguel Rivera

As previously reported, WBO super featherweight champion Roman 'Rocky' Martinez suffered a hand injury and is unable to make a mandatory defense on March 12th in Mexico against Miguel Berchelt.

Zanfer Promotions, who are staging the card with Max Boxing, have announced that Berchelt will still fight on the date against the highest available contender in the WBO's rankings.

Promoter Fernando Beltran of Zanfer has submitted a request to sanction Berchelt's next fight for the WBO interim-super featherweight championship. The winner would have to face Martinez, once he fully recovers, in a mandatory bout.

According to Puerto Rico Best Boxing, who promote Martinez (29-3-2, 17 KO's), the champion will have to take a break from training for at least four weeks time.  Dr. Jose M. Santiago Figueroa, a hand surgeon and an orthopedic surgeon, said Martinez had bruised his left hand and was suffering from tendinitis in the same area.

Everyone was expecting Martinez and his team to arrive on Monday for media commitments.

Berchelt (28-1, 25 KO's) is ready for anything as he sits back and waits for Zanfer - who won the WBO's purse bid to secure the promotional rights - to finalize a new opponent for him.

"It's a very unfortunate situation. We, as the company who won the purse bid, had fulfilled everything that was required of us. We had everything ready with our partner Mario Abraham of Max Boxing, and the people in Mérida were very excited," said Beltran.

"We have a commitment to our fighter Miguel Berchelt to maintain the event. We have spoken with Mario Abraham and also had communication with the WBO, and we will find the best scenario for March 12."