Alberto Puello and Sandor Martin reach agreement on mandatory WBC title fight

Alberto Puello is about to defend his second title for the first time.

The reigning WBC junior welterweight titleholder has agreed to a mandatory defense against Spaniard Sandor Martin. The development was confirmed by WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman, who informed the public that an exchange negotiation was no longer necessary for the duel.

“The battle between [wBC 140-pound] Masters, the Dominican Alberto Puello and the Spaniard Sandor Martin [is] set,” Sulaiman said on Friday.[The] The parties have agreed to the conditions for the mandatory defense of the World Cup.”

Neither a date nor a venue were revealed with the announcement. It is believed that it will land on the opening act of an upcoming Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) show. However, PBC founder Al Haymon was busy rotating his summer attire and thus was unavailable for comment at the time of publication.

The development is significant given the parties involved. Puello is promoted by Shuan Boxing from his native Dominican Republic, but is primarily a PBC fighter. Spaniard Martin is co-promoted by Top Rank.

Puello (23-0, 10 KOs), No. 5 at 140, won the interim WBC title on June 15 in a decision victory over Gary Antuanne Russell in Las Vegas. The only surprise in the verdict was that the undefeated Dominican had to prevail by a close decision.

However, Russell (17-1, 17 KOs), No. 10 at 140, was named as the mandatory fighter for the Puello Martin winner. The decision was made for an immediate rematch in lieu of an appeal.

Martin was originally scheduled to challenge dual-weight and then-reigning WBC 140-pound titlist Devin Haney. Their fight was scheduled for May 11, and then a purse hearing on June 18. Top Rank won with a bid of $2,420,000. Under WBC rules, 10 percent of the winner's bid is held in escrow as a win bonus. Of the remaining amount, Haney was to have received $1,524,600, based on his 70 percent share.

The payday wasn't worth him continuing with the fight. Haney agreed to vacate the title and was named “Champion in Recess.” Puello was then upgraded to full titleholder, beginning a second reign for him. Puello previously held the WBA belt, but was stripped after testing positive for a banned substance last spring. This ultimately led to the cancellation of his planned title defense against Rolando “Rolly” Romero in Las Vegas.

Meanwhile, Martin (42-3, 15 KOs) can still fight for the belt against an undefeated boxer.

The 30-year-old left-hander from Barcelona, ​​Spain, has fought just twice since his controversial loss to Teofimo Lopez (20-1, 13 KOs) in New York City in December 2022. Lopez went on to win The Ring 140-pound championship and the WBO title, while Martin picked up two wins in Italy.

Both fights were only scheduled for eight rounds and against mediocre competition. His lack of activity at the highest level caused him to fall out of The Ring's top 10 ratings; he was No. 9 when the Haney fight was first scheduled in May.

Follow @JakeNDaBox