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, quickly announced that Berchelt would 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.
The sanction has been issued and the opponent has been approved.
Englishman George Jupp (13-2 with 4 KOs), who is the third-ranked super featherweight under the World Boxing Organization (WBO), will face Berchelt (28-1-0 25 KOs) for the interim title next Saturday night.
Jupp has won his last nine bouts, including an upset ten round decision over previously unbeaten Mitchell Smith last December.
As stated, the winner will have to fight Martinez once he returns. If Martinez refuses to fight the winner, then the Puerto Rican boxer will be stripped of the belt and the opposing fighter will be elevated to the status of full champion.
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.