Lester Martinez might have drawn with Christian Mbilli on the biggest show of 2025, but despite the blemish on his record, his stock has only risen.
Martinez, from Guatemala, is now 19-0-1 (16 KOs) and a problem for any of the best super middleweights in the world.
On March 21, he will fight for the WBC interim title against Immanuwel Aleem, the 22-3-3 (14 KOs) “Chosen One” who fights out of Richmond, Virginia, at the Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino, California.
It was the venue where, almost a year ago, Martinez stopped the previously unbeaten Joeshon James in four rounds.
The Mbilli fight, on the undercard of the Saul “Canelo” Alvarez-Terence Crawford Allegiant Stadium spectacular last September 13 in Las Vegas, was one of the most exciting bouts of 2025.
“I put it this way,” Martinez told BoxingScene. “It was a tie that felt like a victory. After drawing with the world champion when nobody knew who you were, only your people were with you, and my father … [it was a success]. … Being nominated and winning Fight of the Year by the WBC – and even by other sites – being the winner of that, that means people really liked it all over the world. It feels pretty awesome.”
Martinez has been unflinching with his positivity, even though he said he had been “left with a bit of sting from not getting the WBC world title” with the draw, an outcome from which many felt Martinez deserved better.
Team Martinez believed that had the fight been scheduled over 12 that its fighter would have stopped Mbilli.
“After that fight, I took a break, rested up, I enjoyed time with my family and friends and the benefits from what I did; the viewership and where it was broadcast [on Netflix], then I refocused,” Martinez said.
“This time, the tickets have absolutely taken off. They’re selling even faster than for the last fight, and that motivates me. People aren’t just coming for my fight but the other fighters on the card.”
The idea of defeating Aleem and raising the green-and-gold belt is something that motivates Martinez, as is the chance to provide his fans and countrymen with something to cheer.
“It excites me. It really does,” said Martinez, who originally hails from Peten Melchor de Mencos but now lives in Guatemala City. “Because I know this is the moment I’ve spent so many years preparing for, and God is giving me the chance to walk into a ring and step into a ring to fight and represent my country. Just like me, the Guatemalans out there are giving it their all to represent their country; I’m one of them. I’m telling you. I don’t want to make promises, I want to deliver. So expect great things from Lester Martinez.”
It is being away from home that Martinez dislikes the most while in camp with coach Brian “BoMac” McIntyre, but he knows it is for the best to get to where he hopes to in his career.
“I think what hurts the most right now is leaving my country, leaving that comfort behind, that comfort zone, because your friends are there, your family … girlfriend,” he said. “But you know that if you don’t do it, you’re not going to get better. You’ll just get comfortable. I was given the great opportunity to be part of an amazing team, and of course I’m going to make the most out of it.”
For the Mbilli fight, Martinez was in camp with Crawford and was inspired by the man who won the main event that night last September. For this fight, even without the incentive of being alongside “Bud,” Martinez insists he is putting in the work.
“I go through it, I’m exhausted, totally wiped out,” he said. “Even things I didn’t know I had in my body hurt. But we’re doing a good job with Coach BoMac, Coach Papo, Bernie, Saul, Coach Hector. … As the days go by, as the fight gets closer, you start feeling good, but you don’t know why. This time I feel more confident. It feels like a championship fight, to be perfectly honest. Regardless of who my opponent is going to be, just knowing deep down that I’m finally going to get a chance to fight for this world title gives me that exact same incredible feeling of pure excitement.
“[It’s] not in the same place [as Vegas], not with the same people [with Mbilli and Crawford]. But the excitement of it being for the title is huge. Very, very big.”
Tris Dixon covered his first amateur boxing fight in 1996. The former editor of Boxing News, he has written for a number of international publications and newspapers, including GQ and Men’s Health, and is a board member for the Ringside Charitable Trust and the Ring of Brotherhood. He has been a broadcaster for TNT Sports and hosts the popular “Boxing Life Stories” podcast. Dixon is a British Boxing Hall of Famer, an International Boxing Hall of Fame elector, a BWAA award winner, and is the author of five boxing books, including “Damage: The Untold Story of Brain Trauma in Boxing” (shortlisted for the William Hill Sportsbook of the Year), “Warrior: A Champion’s Search for His Identity” (shortlisted for the Sunday Times International Sportsbook of the Year) and “The Road to Nowhere: A Journey Through Boxing’s Wastelands.” You can reach him @trisdixon on X and Instagram.
