CARSON, California – Knowing the challenge that awaits him August 29 after the top-10 ranked light heavyweight delivered a fight-of-the-year candidate in March, Najee Lopez was asked about the value of the expected sellout card at Los Angeles’ Galen Center.
“I’d pay $75, man. I’d break the bank [to watch] this card,” Atlanta’s Lopez said.
Headlined by WBC interim super middleweight champion Lester Martinez, 20-0-1 (16 KOs), defending his belt versus Croatia’s No. 3-ranked Luka Plantic, 13-0 (10 KOs), and featuring the return of San Antonio’s Ramon Cardenas in a pivotal 122lbs bout, the card opens ProBoxTV’s move to a subscription model priced at $5 per month.
“The price of a cup of coffee,” ProBox TV analyst Chris Algieri noted at Monday’s news conference launching the event.
Lopez, 16-0 (13 KOs), returns from spectacularly lifting himself from the canvas in the main event of ProBoxTV’s March 13 card in Florida to score a TKO one round later versus Manuel Gallegos.
Now, he’ll face Colombia’s Juan Carrillo, 15-0 (11 KOs), a hard-hitting 33-year-old promoted by Sampson Lewkowicz, the handler of unbeaten two-division champion David Benavidez and WBC junior middleweight champion Sebastian Fundora.
Carrillo trainer Bob Santos called the assignment of his fighter versus ProBox lynchpin Lopez “a mistake,” but the fighter with Puerto Rico lineage countered that’s the caliber of fighter he expects now that he’s ranked No. 4 by the WBA, No. 9 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBC.
“I’ve gained that composure. Being able to calm down that storm, calm the pressure and stay locked in on the task at hand,” Lopez, 26, said. “Any challenge, I’m ready for it.”
Lopez has fought for ProBoxTV CEO and founder Garry Jonas since his 2021 debut.
He said he takes pride in his prominent placement on the card as the promotion grows into its new role – with now-monthly cards offering competitive fights involving its increasingly distinguished talent that also includes featherweight champion Angelo Leo, lightweight title challenger Lamont Roach Jnr and Saturday featherweight title challenger Rene Palacios.
“Every time I step in the ring, I think of the fans, especially the ones laying fresh eyes on me. I want them to walk away thinking I’m going to gain a fan,” Lopez said.
Martinez has certainly accomplished that.
A few years ago, his trainer Brian “BoMac” McIntyre was making personal calls to boxing reporters alerting them to the newest addition to a stable that included Terence Crawford.
Martinez on Monday regaled acquaintances with a story of meeting Guatemala’s president following his March 21 unanimous-decision victory over Immanuwel Aleem to claim the interim belt.
“This will be my third time as a main event on ProBoxTV,” he said. “I’m very grateful for the opportunities the platform has given me.”
Jonas placed this card in Los Angeles to coincide with a widely attended Guatemalan festival in the city.
“I’m very happy to be fighting in front of my people on such a special day,” Martinez said.
A packed house is expected as Martinez bides his time waiting for either the winner of the fall WBC title fight between new champion Christian Mbilli and four-division champion Canelo Alvarez, or another elite fighter in the 168lbs division.
“First and foremost, I need to focus on Luka. He’s the task at hand,” Martinez said. “But, of course, I’ll be watching Canelo and Mbilli, hoping to get the winner. If that fight doesn’t materialize or come soon enough, we’re going to have to be open to fight someone else.”
For Plantic, who’s training under Joel Diaz in Indio, California, it’s his debut bout in the U.S.
While Martinez fought Mbilli to an all-action draw in September, Plantic knocked out Mbilli in the first round of an amateur fight more than a decade ago.
“He’s an undefeated fighter, and everything he’s gotten, he’s earned,” Martinez said of his opponent. “Because of that, we’re going to train harder, make it a tremendous camp to prepare.
“The amateurs is one thing. It’s different when you step into the professional ranks.”
