Berchelt-Cruz Discussed As Martinez-Lomachenko Title Status In Question

By Jake Donovan

Event handlers are planning a formal announcement for Vasyl Lomachenko’s debut as an HBO headliner, as he faces Puerto Rico’s Roman Martinez atop a June 11 doubleheader at Madison Square Garden Theatre in New York City. A press conference is due to take place this Thursday on MSG grounds, but the billing of the main event serving as a title fight remains in question.

Martinez (29-2-3, 17KOs) is due to make the second defense of his third reign as a super featherweight titlist versus Lomachenko (5-1, 3KOs excluding his bouts on the World Series of Boxing circuit), who will move up in weight but has not yet relinquished his featherweight belt. Given current circumstances, he will be best served to hold on to the title for the time being.

An unresolved issue remains as it relates to Martinez’ mandatory challenger, Mexico’s Miguel Berchelt. The two were supposed to meet on March 12 in Berchelt’s hometown of Merida, Mexico. However, the bout was canceled when Martinez withdrew due to injury roughly a week before fight night.

Berchelt went on to face – and knock out – late replacement George Jupp to win an interim title, with the agreement that he would face Martinez upon the Puerto Rican receiving a clean bill of health to return to the ring. It’s a fight he and his team still fully intend to pursue – either that or demanding that the title is handed over for failure to defend.

As a member from Zanfer Promotions – who guides Berchelt’s career – explained to BoxingScene.com, “We didn’t jump through hoops just to have to clear more hurdles. He took the interim title fight believing next would be Martinez for the full title. That’s the fight we want and expect to take place next.”

With Lomachenko eager to test the super featherweight waters came the suggestion from his promoter Top Rank that he goes after Martinez, the company’s Plan B after originally targeted opponent Nicholas Walters failed to gain a firm grasp of fair market value for his services.

Martinez fits the bill as a reigning titlist and his heritage helping play to a show that takes place on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day parade – the same reasons that unbeaten lightweight contender Felix Verdejo will appear in the evening’s co-feature, a role he reprises from his HBO debut at the same time a year ago.

Top Rank has worked on alternate plans to appease all parties, as the World Boxing Organization (WBO) cannot move forward in sanctioning the fight without Berchelt’s blessing.

Along with a step-aside package offered, BoxingScene.com has learned that Top Rank is working on an offer for Berchelt to face Puerto Rico’s Orlando Cruz. With such a step-aside package, Berchelt would put extra money in his pocket and – with a win – would stand to make even more in facing the winner of Martinez-Lomachenko.

Whether or not Cruz wants the fight is less relevant than if the fight is officially offered to the 2000 Puerto Rican Olympian. His team has acknowledged conversations taking place discussing such a matchup, noting that “it’s a fight we absolutely love and there is nothing standing in our way of accepting once it is officially offered to us.

“But until Top Rank and Zanfer can reach an agreement, there is nothing to consider.”

The June 11 show will go on as scheduled, regardless of the title status in place. Should the belt be at stake and is won by Lomachenko, he will have 60 days to decide whether to remain at featherweight and leave behind the super featherweight belt, or vice versa and continue to campaign at the higher weight class.

Should he go the latter route, the timing of his eventually vacating the featherweight belt is crucial in determining when unbeaten contender Oscar Valdez can fight for the title. The two-time Olympian from Mexico – now based out of Arizona – is due to return to the ring in July, with a win leading to targeted plans of challenging for his first major title.

Holding up all of those plans is whether or not Berchelt - who has yet to be formally presented with the discussed offer - is willing to wait out June 11 with cash in hand and an attractive stay-busy offer versus a faded Cruz, or if he and his team will stand firm and demand next in line for Martinez’ title – whether in the ring or in a court room.

Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com. Follow him on his shiny new Twitter account: @JakeNDaBox_v2