Peter Rivera, vice president of PR Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP), the company representing Martinez (29-2-3, 17 KOs) said that the protest is based on the fact that Berchelt (28-1, 25 KOs) has not been faced to any WBO ranked fighters at 130 pounds to earn the mandatory opportunity “as the rules of the WBO says.”
“We do not participate in the purse bid and protested it, since according to the rules of the WBO Berchelt had to be faced against a ranked boxer to have the mandatory fight, and that has not happened. But whatever the WBO held the bid, won by Zanfer Promotions, which represents Berchelt,” said Rivera. “We challenge it and this week will be our appeal. We hope that the WBO rules in favor of us and the mandatory fighter is one who meet the requirements for the world title fight.”
Zanfer Promotions won the purse bid, held in New York, with a total of $251,000, while All Star Boxing put up $201.500. The minimum for the purse bid was $ 150,000.
PRBB has been negotiating the third bout between Martinez and Orlando “Siri” Salido (43-13-3, 30 KOs), whose new date would be March 12 in Puerto Rico.
“We have never ceased to negotiate with the people of Salido and we are almost ready to make official this big fight between Rocky and Salido,” said Rivera. “There were certain things we had to agree and we get it for make the fight on March 12.”
Martinez and Salido fought in two wars in 2015. The fighters clashed on April 11 in Puerto Rico and the Martinez won, sending Salido to the canvas twice en route to a unanimous decision victory. Then on September 12, they face again in Las Vegas as the co-feature bout of the final Floyd Mayweather fight, and after 12 intense rounds, the match was declared a draw.
