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Newly crowned interim WBC junior middleweight champion Sergio Martinez is looking for a fight and if two-time & reigning WBC world champion Vernon Forrest shies away, Martinez wants undefeated James Kirkland instead.
The world-rated Kirkland, who is currently being sued by his former promoter Gary Shaw, just signed with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
“Now that he’s signed with Golden Boy, I’d assume that Kirkland will be looking for a big fight other than with Gary Shaw Productions. If we don’t get the opportunity to face Forrest, we’d be more than happy to have Sergio make his first defense of the WBC title against Kirkland on HBO,” said DBE president Lou DiBella.
“If Forrest won’t fight me, I would love to beat up Kirkland…and after that…I’ll beat up his new promoter if he gives me the chance,” exclaimed Martinez (44-1-1, 24 KOs).
In a fight seen October 4 on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Martinez overwhelmed the previous WBA # 1 & WBC # 4 rated contender Alex Bunema to claim the interim WBC crown at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. “Maravilla” Martinez put on a boxing clinic of handspeed and power against Bunema - flooring the African in round three, and prompting the ringside physician to stop the one-sided beating before the start of round nine.
“Sergio wants to be the real champion. His first choice is to fight Vernon Forrest and not be awarded the title outside the ring. I want to give Forrest the credit he deserves as a great champion, but if Forrest chooses to give up his title; Martinez is no prima donna…he’ll fight any top contender approved by HBO and the WBC,” said Martinez’s advisor Sampson Lewkowicz.
Martinez is a 33-year-old southpaw from Buenos Aires, Argentina, now residing in Madrid, Spain, and has previously held the IBO world and WBC Latino 154 pound titles.
http://www.secondsout.com/World/news...s=225&cs=33925
The world-rated Kirkland, who is currently being sued by his former promoter Gary Shaw, just signed with Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions.
“Now that he’s signed with Golden Boy, I’d assume that Kirkland will be looking for a big fight other than with Gary Shaw Productions. If we don’t get the opportunity to face Forrest, we’d be more than happy to have Sergio make his first defense of the WBC title against Kirkland on HBO,” said DBE president Lou DiBella.
“If Forrest won’t fight me, I would love to beat up Kirkland…and after that…I’ll beat up his new promoter if he gives me the chance,” exclaimed Martinez (44-1-1, 24 KOs).
In a fight seen October 4 on HBO’s Boxing After Dark, Martinez overwhelmed the previous WBA # 1 & WBC # 4 rated contender Alex Bunema to claim the interim WBC crown at the Pechanga Resort & Casino in Temecula, California. “Maravilla” Martinez put on a boxing clinic of handspeed and power against Bunema - flooring the African in round three, and prompting the ringside physician to stop the one-sided beating before the start of round nine.
“Sergio wants to be the real champion. His first choice is to fight Vernon Forrest and not be awarded the title outside the ring. I want to give Forrest the credit he deserves as a great champion, but if Forrest chooses to give up his title; Martinez is no prima donna…he’ll fight any top contender approved by HBO and the WBC,” said Martinez’s advisor Sampson Lewkowicz.
Martinez is a 33-year-old southpaw from Buenos Aires, Argentina, now residing in Madrid, Spain, and has previously held the IBO world and WBC Latino 154 pound titles.
http://www.secondsout.com/World/news...s=225&cs=33925
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