Arum Confirms Interest in Having Martinez-Berchelt on MSG Bill

By Miguel Rivera

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, promoter Peter Rivera of Puerto Rico Best Boxing reached out to Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum to discuss the possibility of having World Boxing Organization (WBO) super featherweight world champion Roman 'Rocky' Martinez make his mandatory defense against Miguel Berchelt on Arum's upcoming card.

Arum plans to stage a big event on June 11 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

While the first plan called for the event to take place at The Theater, Arum now wants to stage his card in the main arena of the venue.

Arum wants the card to be headlined by a featherweight clash between Vasyl Lomachenko and Nicholas Walters, and Puerto Rican lightweight prospect Felix 'El Diamante' Verdejo seeing action in the co-feature against an opponent to be determined.

Last Saturday night at the Polyforum Zam Na in Merida, Yucatan - Berchelt (29-1-0 26 KOs) captured the WBO's interim-super featherweight world championship with a brutal sixth round knockout of Englishman George Jupp (13-3 with 4 KOs), who took the fight on late notice.

Berchelt was initially scheduled to face Martinez, who withdrew last week with a hand injury.

According to Rivera, Martinez (29-3-2, 17 KO's) should be able to fight in late May or early June.

Arum would not discuss the details of the conversations with Rivera, but he'd love to have that fight on the card.

"Absolutely, I would love [to have that fight on the card]. This event is on the eve of the Puerto Rican Day Parade and it's true that I spoke to him (Peter Rivera). But I don't want to disclose details because we are still in talks," said Arum to El Vocero.

"But right now the ball is now in Peter's court. I would love to have that fight as part of our event."