Roman Martinez-Luis Cruz Clash on Juanma-Salido Card?

By Jhonny Gonzalez

It's being reported in Puerto Rico that former world champion Rocky Martinez (24-1-1, 15KOs) may face unbeaten countryman Luis Cruz (17-0, 14KOs) on April 16 in Bayamon. The fight would become a televised bout on Showtime, as the co-feature to Juan Manuel Lopez's defense of the WBO featherweight title against Orlando Salido.

Martinez-Cruz would be a mandatory eliminator with the winner getting a shot at WBO super featherweight champion Ricky Burns. Peter River, Vice President of Puerto Rico Best Boxing, says Cruz's people have yet to accept the fight. If Cruz turns the offer down, another possible opponent for Martinez is Filipino Bernabe Concepcion, who would be moved over from a planned Las Vegas event on May 6.

"Showtime, which will televise the card, offered us the fight. We believe it is a good fight, but they (the group of Cruz) have not been decided yet," said Rivera to Victor Ortiz. "At first we were offered a Bernabe Concepcion. This is an opportunity that we must take. This will take [the winner] to a mandatory shot at Burns."