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 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 tomorrow 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.
FULL WEIGHTS
Miguel Berchelt 129 lbs George Jupp 130 lbs
12 rds interim World Champion super featherweight WBO
Junior Granados 116, Aston Palicte 116 lbs
Eduardo Torres 135 lbs, Carlos Jiménez 135 lbs
Miguel Herrera 113 lbs , Hiram Gallardo 113 lbs
Víctor Méndez 119.5, Denovan Salazar 119.5
José García 147 lbs, Israel Villela 147 lbs
Angel Salomón 154 lbs, Angel Ramírez 155 lbs
Eduardo Ramírez 126 lbs, Bernardo Luit 126 lbs
