By Miguel Rivera
According to Puerto Rico Best Boxing, who promote the junior lightweight world champion of the World Boxing Organization (WBO) - Roman 'Rocky' Martinez - a deal has been reached for their boxer to make a voluntary defense against two-time Olympic gold medal winner Vasyl Lomachenko.
The HBO televised fight would take place on Saturday, June 11 at the Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York.
After several meetings between promotional companies Top Rank (who have Lomachenko) and PR Best Boxing, the two sides reached an agreement on Friday night.
Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs) has been out of the ring since going to a split draw with Orlando Salido on the Mayweather-Berto undercard last September at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. He beat Salido earlier in the year by twelve round decision to win the WBO title for a third time.
Lomachenko (5- 1, 3 KOs), who is the WBO featherweight champion and will move up in weight to take the fight, knocked out Romulo Koasicha in ten rounds last November as part of the Tim Bradley-Brandon Rios undercard at the Thomas & Mack Center. He also got a knockout win over Puerto Rican Gamalier Rodriguez in the ninth round in May, which took place on the massive Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao undercard.
Martinez was scheduled to make a mandatory defense against Miguel Berchelt of Mexico, but withdrew from the contest due to a hand injury. He has since been cleared to fight by his doctor. Top Rank has a very close relationship with Berchelt's promoter, Zanfer Promotions, and they likely reached a step-aside deal with Berchelt being guaranteed an immediate mandatory shot at the winner.
