Former unified middleweight champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez (55-3-2, 30 KOs) is scheduled for an eight round bout against Noah Kidd (6-6-2, 5 KOs) on Sunday night on a special evening of boxing that opens the annual WBA Convention, which takes place December 11-14 at the Caribe Royale in Orlando, Florida. The 47-year-old Martinez is 4-0 since returning to the ring in 2020 and is currently rated WBA #4. Kidd is moving up from the super welterweight division to face the future Hall of Famer.
Also seeing action is highly ranked bantamweight Melvin “Melo” Lopez (28-1, 19 KOs) against Jobert Alvarez (20-3-2, 7 KOs) in a scheduled ten rounder with the WBA Continental Americas title at stake. Lopez is closing fast on a world title opportunity and is currently ranked in the top 5 by the WBA, WBO, and IBF. Melo’s M&R Boxing Promotions stablemate Idalberto Umara (7-1, 4 KOs) will take on Emiliano Martin Garcia (18-8-1, 13 KOs) in a ten-rounder for the vacant WBA Fedecaribe title.
Other world-rated fighters scheduled include WBC #8 super middleweight champion Yamaguchi “The Problem” Falcao (23-1-1, 9 KOs) defending his NABA belt against heavy-handed Ernest Amuzu (26-7, 22 KOs) and WBA #10 middleweight Connor “The Kid” Coyle (17-0, 7 KOs) defending his NABA belt against Sladan Janjanian (34-13, 24 KOs).
Headlining is a ten round junior welterweight contest between Orestes Velasquez (5-0, 5 KOs) and Guillermo “El Leoncito” Crocco (20-2-1, 6 KOs) for the WBA International title.
In the ten round co-feature, undefeated middleweights Francisco “Bebu” Veron (10-0, 8 KOs) and Leonardo Ruiz (10-0, 7 KOs) will square off for the WBA Continental Americas title.
Other bouts:
Female junior lightweight Kalliopi “Pink Tyson” Kourouni (12-3, 2 KOs) squares off against Calista Silgado (21-16-3, 16 KOs) over ten rounds for the WBA Continental Americas title.
At light heavyweight, Joseph George (12-0, 7 KOs) faces Raiko Santana (8-3, 5 KOs) for the WBA Fedecaribe title in a ten-rounder.
At super welterweight, Yoanis Tellez (2-0, 2 KOs) meets Jean Rivera (8-1, 1 KO) in a ten-rounder for the WBA Fedecaribe belt.
In six rounders, heavyweight Herich Ruiz Cordoba meets Phillip Jean Siede, junior middleweight Jeovanny Estela faces Luis Eduardo Florez, welterweight Damian Lescaille battles Rondale Hubbert, and lightweight Alex Rios Vega will face an opponent to be named.
The card is promoted bu Amaury Piedra/Boxlab Promotions.
Next to Mickey Mouse…Sergio maybe the oldest person performing in Orlando!
Sergio M was a beast at one time. He pulled off a devastating KO on my guy Paul “The Punisher” Williams. Speaking of which I hope Paul is taking care of himself post motorcycle accident.
I saw him fight Cotto at MSG in 2014 before he retired. My only time in New York!!! It was special for me to be there. That said…the one sided beat down he received that night was unexpected. In hindsight the knee trouble had been an issue for awhile and I think it finally got to a point where he had no business fighting in that condition. The payday of Cotto was just too big to pass on. With all the years off I would guess his knees are probably better now then they were that night but being he is 47 the rest of him is not! I say if he had two good knees and was in his prime he would have handled Cotto in a definitive way. Just my opinion.
Which Champion would he want to fight tho? Inquiring minds want to know…
Maybe he fights Munguia…. he still might be as good as some of the opponents Munguia has been facing! LOL!!!
I’m sitting here thinking Pete – Martinez is ranked #3 by the WBA, the two guys ahead of him are Zerafa and Murata…. I actually wouldn’t have too much of a problem with him fighting either one of those and MAYBE either one isn’t entirely unwinnable??? Or am I being ridiculous?
Definitely a fight against Zerafa is winnable. I don’t know about the Japanese fighter though.
Question: Is Sergio Martinez Hall worthy?
Great question. He isn’t a first balloter in my opinion, but I’d put him in.
I thought he was already in but I think I am mistaken? I might be confused because he may have announced his retirement there. He was retired long enough to be on the ballot I believe.
Same here, I think he should get in at some point.
always liked sergio m liked his style good luck to him he is a future hall of fame boxer