By Jake Donovan
For the second time in less than a month, Roman Martinez and Orlando Salido were believed to have a deal in place, only for such plans to be interrupted by a looming mandatory title defense.
The latest round of negotiations had the familiar rivals agreeing to all terms for a third fight, including Salido giving in and agreeing to return to Puerto Rico. This time around, the World Boxing Organization (WBO) – fed up with the games being played between both camps over the past few weeks – insisted that Martinez needs to instead defend his super featherweight title versus mandatory challenger Miguel Berchelt.
With that, the WBO is proceeding with a purse bid hearing scheduled for Tuesday in New York City.
“We gave both teams plenty of time to reach an agreement,” WBO President Francisco ‘Paco’ Valcarcel informed krikya360.com. “A deadline was given for when the WBO needed (a written agreement). We even extended the deadline when we were told they were close, but it is now far too late and we are moving forward with our original plans for the purse bid.”
Also on the docket is a scheduled hearing for the super middleweight title fight between defending champion Arthur Abraham and unbeaten mandatory challenger Gilberto Ramirez. Both sides insisted a deal was in place, but the WBO – which previously announced that a deal was reached in principle - has kept the session open until receiving written confirmation in lieu of a verbal agreement.
The minimum acceptable bid is $150,000 to secure the rights to promote Martinez-Berchelt. All participants must submit a 10% deposit (identified by sanctioning bodies as a purse bond) in the form of a cashier’s check, along with the indication of no more than three suggested dates and locations. The fight must take place no later than April 11 (90 days from the purse bid hearing), but no sooner than 45 days from Tuesday’s session.
Should no promoter submit the minimum acceptable amount, the fight will go back to a purse bid hearing at the WBO’s discretion. Additionally, should either side fail to comply with the purse bid terms, they will be removed of such WBO ranking.
It was specifically mentioned by the WBO that Berchelt (28-1, 25KOs) would lose his mandatory ranking should his team opt against allowing the fighter to follow through with the fight. It was mentioned due to the concern of pulling a bait and switch, in having Salido take the fight in place of Berchelt (both are promoted by Zanfer Promotions).
That scenario remains unlikely, however, as the top-rated contender from Mexico has already entered training camp in anticipation of his first career title fight.
There also stands a great chance of a winning bid being submitted, as representation for several promotional outfits are in New York City’s specifically for Tuesday’s hearing. Included among the promoters anxious to secure rights to the fight are members from Puerto Rico Best Boxing Promotions (PRBBP, Martinez’ promoter) and Zanfer Promotions.
Those disappointed in this not resulting in a third entry into the thrilling rivalry between Martinez (29-2-3, 17KOs) and Salido needn’t look any further than those involved in the ongoing negotiations.
Two separate fight dates were on the table for the fight, with American cable giant Showtime expressing major interest in securing TV rights. The rematch took place on Showtime PPV, with Martinez and Salido fighting to a draw in the chief support to Floyd Mayweather’s last-ever fight in a 12-round win over Andre Berto last September in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Most observers felt Salido (43-13-3, 30KOs) deserved to win, but the hard-luck former two-division champ from Mexico couldn’t convince the judges despite the surroundings serving more favorable than their first fight. Salido complained of shoddy officiating from their first fight – also the first defense of his title - in which Martinez scored a major upset win last April in San Juan, Puerto Rico.
That very claim was reiterated in his initial refusal to head back to the island for a third fight, whereas Martinez’ side insisted it had to take place there as to line up with Showtime’s once-suggested plans of a televised tripleheader. Showtime confirmed that it was discussed, but that the location was not the deciding factor in whether or not it would pick up the fight.
Nevertheless, it produced enough of a stalemate to where the WBO stepped in and instead ordered the mandatory title fight between Martinez and Berchelt.
The two sides were to negotiate terms for such a fight, but instead used the period to attempt to revive plans for a third fight between Martinez and Salido. The original purse bid hearing was scheduled for January 8 in Puerto Rico, but moved to January 12 in New York City to coordinate with another WBO-ordered fight between super middleweight champ Arthur Abraham and unbeaten mandatory challenger Gilberto Ramirez.
Salido’s team informed krikya360.com prior to the deadline that the veteran boxer planned to go through with the fight, even if it meant traveling back to Puerto Rico. As much was communicated to Martinez’ camp, who in turn contacted the WBO to inform of a working date of March 12 in San Juan.
By that point, the ship had sailed both with the WBO and with Showtime, who logistically could not marry up the date with the location. While an available network was not of principle concern – Martinez is one of 200-plus fighters currently under the advisory banner of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) creator Al Haymon – the timing in which they finally agreed to terms was in fact a deal breaker with the Puerto Rico-based sanctioning body.
Martinez (29-2-3, 17KOs) is currently in his third tour as a WBO super featherweight titlist. His first reign began and ended in United Kingdom, claiming the belt in a 4th round knockout of Nicky Cook in March '09 on the road in Manchester, England. Two successful defenses followed before dropping a 12-round decision to Ricky Burns in Sept. '10 in front of a partisan crowd in Glasgow, Scotland.
Burns vacated the title in moving up to the lightweight division, with Martinez regaining the strap in a close, debatable points win over Miguel Beltran Jr. in Sept. '12. A far more controversial 12-round draw with Juan Carlos Burgos just four months later made for his lone successful defense before suffering a 9th round knockout at the hands of Miguel ‘Mikey’ Garcia in Nov. ’13.
The loss to Garcia was met with thoughts of calling it quits, but opted to return in Dec. ’14. A tune-up win was enough to put him in position for yet another title shot, coming up aces in his first fight with Salido last April in Puerto Rico. The bout was a war and also a tale of two fights, with Martinez jumping out to a strong start before Salido – who’d claimed the vacant title seven months prior – rallied hard down the stretch, only to come up short in the end.
As thrilling was their first fight, the rematch proved just as entertaining, if not more so. Unfortunately, fans are denied – for the moment – a more appropriate conclusion to this thrilling rivalry.
Instead, procrastination and indecision allowed Berchelt (28-1, 25KOs) to re-enter the title picture.
The 24-year old from Merida comes in riding a seven-fight win streak – all by knockout – following the lone loss of his career. Offsetting his TV-friendly style, however, is his lack of notable wins.
Berchelt’s lone defeat came in a 1st round knockout versus unheralded Luis Flores in March ’14. A right hand, left hook combo was enough to put him on the mat and separate the then-unbeaten 22-year old from his senses. Efforts to make it to his feet were met with enough of a drunken stumbled to where the fight was halted without another punch being thrown.
His team has since bombarded the press with what seems like daily updates of his career development. Their efforts to keep him relevant are to be applauded, as the opposition he’s since faced suggests the path of least resistance in reaching a title fight but nevertheless left him in the right place at the right time.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of krikya360.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox