Lester Martinez latest at risk to be sidestepped by Canelo Alvarez

Is Lester Martinez the next David Benavidez?

The unbeaten Guatemalan super middleweight Wednesday pleaded his case for an immediate title shot at return titleholder Canelo Alvarez, and was put on pause by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman.

Martinez, 21-0-1 (17 KOs), appeared before Sulaiman and the WBC ratings committee at Wednesday’s WBC Convention in Acapulco, Mexico, pressing as the WBC interim 168lbs titleholder for the next shot at Mexico’s popular Alvarez.

Sulaiman preceded Martinez’s comments by telling a Martinez representative that Alvarez has yet to inform the WBC of official plans for his next “high-profile” fight, and that the WBC will wait to hear from him.

The Martinez representative explained that plans to stage a Martinez bout in Guatemala early next year are premature.

“At this moment, the fight by Canelo is very recent and, of course, Canelo, just like Ryan Garcia, [Naoya] Inoue, those are higher-profile, and that’s where we are taking the best care, so things happen and don't break,” Sulaiman informed the representative and Martinez.

“We will get back once Canelo decides what is the situation with his contract [with Saudi Arabia boxing financier Turki Alalshikh].

“I spoke with [Alvarez] directly. They are more than willing to fight Lester Martinez, but they want to do it at the biggest stage possible. So if you have a defense of the interim title, you may proceed, and we will have maybe one month to discuss what would be the proper steps in the super middleweight division.”

On the heels of recapturing the WBC belt with an October 31 unanimous decision victory over Christian Mbilli – who fought Martinez to a draw in September 2025 – Alvarez, 64-3-2 (39 KOs), and his trainer Eddy Reynoso have floated interest in a rematch with the retired Terence Crawford or a return to light heavyweight to meet England’s new WBC titlist Willy Hutchinson.

One individual connected to the matter said Alvarez may have interest in remaining at light heavyweight, where another man who defeated him, three-belt champion Dmitry Bivol, reigns.

If that were the case, Martinez would be first in line for a shot at the vacant belt. 

Reynoso told BoxingScene recently, “What [Martinez] did with Mbilli … he’s on the right path. He deserves competition. He’s hungry. His time will come.”

If that sounds like a stall tactic, it wouldn’t be the first time.

Alvarez famously denied the unbeaten and top-ranked, then-interim belt holder Benavidez a title shot at 168lbs before the Phoenix fighter grew disenchanted and fled to win belts as both light heavyweight and then cruiserweight.

Critics have argued Alvarez receives preferential treatment from his home-nation WBC while also participating in lucrative bouts that ensure pricey sanctioning fees for the sanctioning body.

Sulaiman later explained to reporters Wednesday, “There is an understanding and custom of the World Boxing Council to avoid, as much as possible, having challengers that aren’t really at the level of … the champion. There are fighters that stand out: Canelo Alvarez, Ryan Garcia, Naoya Inoue, Benavidez.

“There are fighters who are out of the rankings of those that are advancing in their career, and that’s why, considering this, Canelo just conquered his title; we give him the opportunity of a resting period to analyze the options he has and to let us know what the next step is.

“Lester Martinez is interim champion. He will defend the interim championship, anyway. So, no one gets hurt, activity is maintained, and we look to provide the fights at the right time, at the highest level.”

Upon hearing Sulaiman’s comments from the stage, Martinez responded.

“Four years ago, we came here with the [WBC] Latino title. We came here to fight, and the next day I felt a little sad, but happy to have won a great victory,” Martinez said. “More than asking for another opportunity, I am here to enforce the right that the WBC placed in the interim championship to be able to fight against the absolute champion, and hopefully we will receive that great opportunity. I thank you for giving me the opportunity to be here.”

Unbeaten top-five super middleweight contender Diego Pacheco told BoxingScene he’s intrigued by the idea of staging a showdown with Martinez in Los Angeles should Pacheco defeat Darius Fulghum on Saturday night in Carson, California.

BoxingScene correspondent Brigette Lugo contributed to this report.