In San Bernardino, California, Lester Martinez made boxing history on Saturday night by defeating Immanuwel Aleem to claim the vacant WBC interim super middleweight championship.
The judges scored the fight unanimously in Martinez’s favor with tallies of 118-110, 119-109, and 120-108. At 30 years old and now 20-0-1, the Guatemalan fighter became the first boxer from his country to win a world title, earning him a prime position to challenge the victor of the upcoming mid-September WBC super middleweight title bout between current champion Christian Mbilli from Canada and Mexico’s Saul “Canelo” Alvarez, the four-division former undisputed 168-pound king.
A packed house of Guatemalan supporters, energized by an extended rendition of their national anthem, cheered on Martinez as he used his power and sharpening technique to overcome the resilient Aleem from Virginia, who dropped to 22-4-3.
Martinez is slated to fight again in late August during the “El Chapin” Guatemalan festival in Los Angeles.
The main event followed a string of quick preliminary bouts, with all six undercard fights concluding by the end of the third round.
Aleem came out active in the opening round, targeting the body and head with his jab, but this left him open to a powerful left hook in the closing minute following a solid right that showcased Martinez’s formidable strength.
In the second, Martinez absorbed a pair of early jabs before landing a crisp right that stunned Aleem, sparking a punishing round filled with heavy shots that noticeably drained Aleem’s energy and hampered his defense.
Martinez shifted focus to the body while unleashing thunderous hooks from both hands, forcing Aleem to rely on sheer durability as he endured tremendous punishment.
From Aleem’s corner, his father and trainer Omar appeared to push for a comeback, but a huge right from Martinez rocked Aleem again, allowing the Guatemalan to press forward aggressively. A sharp flurry along the ropes added to Aleem’s struggles.
Aleem fought back valiantly to start the fifth with a scoring combo and an uppercut that momentarily rattled Martinez, who acknowledged it with a nod before responding with his own sharp counters.
In the sixth, an uppercut followed by two clean rights from Martinez further challenged Aleem’s staying power, yet the veteran pushed through the barrage.
Martinez ramped up the intensity in the seventh, probing Aleem’s limits with more rights, as the experienced fighter absorbed them and stared back defiantly at the bell as if to say he could take more.
A swelling knot emerged on Aleem’s forehead, highlighting the toll, while Martinez kept landing his effective, powerful uppercuts.
