By Rick Reeno
As BoxingScene.com previously reported, Sergio Martinez canceled a planned media day, which was scheduled this past Tuesday, due to security threats and an act of vandalism. A few days ago, Martinez's promoter, Lou DiBella, revealed that his boxer received threats from an unknown source and a car was vandalized with paint outside of Martinez's apartment in Oxnard, California.
Because of the threats, a 24 hour security detail has been assigned to protect Martinez. The Argentine star is training in Oxnard for a September 15th title clash with WBC champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., taking place at the Thomas & Mack Center in Las Vegas. HBO Pay-Per-View will carry the event.
In a recent interview with BoxingScene, Chavez Jr. was shaking his head at the story and doesn't fully believe the legit nature of the incidents.
The Mexican champion's trainer, Freddie Roach, spoke to BoxingScene and agreed with Julio's opinion on the entire situation.
"He's training in Oxnard and if you're fighting a Mexican fighter - don't train in Oxnard. It's all Mexicans down there. I'm not making any phone calls I can tell you that much [Roach laughed]. My girlfriend speaks Spanish but I don't," Roach told BoxingScene.com.
"The media is a pain in the ass to fighters sometimes and maybe he just didn't want to do the media day. The bottom line is, they both have to meet in the ring and nobody is going to help [Julio]. Nobody is going to shoot [Martinez] from the stands. Julio is from a dangerous area of Culiacan, but we are not fighting in Culiacan.....we're fighting in America."
"I think it's just an excuse. That's why I think he's a little soft and I think that we have to bring that out [in the fight]."
