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WBC Interim Super Middleweight Championship Lester Martínez vs Luka Plantić USC Galen Center Los Angeles, California, USA August 29th, 2026 International: ProBox TV | LESTER MARTINEZ | LUKA PLANTIC | | | Nationality: Guatemalan | Nationality: Croatian | | | Date of Birth: October 17th, 1995 | Date of Birth: October 29th, 1996 | | | Birthplace: Melchor de Mencos, Petén, Guatemala | Birthplace: Solin, Croatia | | | Residence: Omaha, Nebraska, USA | Residence: Zagreb, Croatia | | | Age: 30 | Age: 29 | | | Record:20-0-1; 16 KO’s | Record: 13-0-0, 10 KO´s | | | KO Ratio: 80% | KO Ratio: 76.92 % | | | Stance: Orthodox | Stance: Southpaw | | | Rounds: 96 | Rounds: 80 | | | World title fights: 2 (1-0-1) | World Title Fights: 0 | | | Manager: Ramon Hernandez | Managers: Ahmet Öner | | | Promoter: ProBox | Promoter: Arena Boxing | | | Trainer: Brian “BoMac” McIntyre | Trainer: Joel Diaz | WBC Champion LESTER MARTINEZ WBC Interim Super Middleweight Champion Undefeated with 20 wins & 1 draw First Guatemalan WBC Champion. WBC Latino Super Middleweight. 2024 WBC Latino Super Middleweight. 2021 Challenger LUKA PLANTIC WBC #4 Super Middleweight Undefeated with 13 wins w/ 10 KO’s WBC International Super Middleweight. 4 Defenses. WBC International Silver Super Middleweight. 2022 – 2023 ProBox Tv, widely recognized by fight fans for presenting all-action blockbusters, is officially entering a new era. The platform is transitioning to a sustainable $5-per-month subscription model, designed to keep high-level competitive boxing thriving while maintaining its commitment to elite match-making. The curtain-raiser for this new phase is a massive showdown: undefeated and WBC Interim Super-Middleweight Champion Lester Martinez (20-0-1, 16 KOs) putting his belt on the line Known throughout the industry for consistently manufacturing the most competitive and attractive matchups in the sport and producing all-action blockbusters, ProBox TV continues to put competitive integrity first. As the boxing landscape shifts, ProBox TV’s $5 monthly tier guarantees premium access to their flagship Championship Series, featuring title fights or top-10 vs. top-10 battles, alongside comprehensive studio breakdowns from Chris Algieri and Paulie Malignaggi. ProBox Tv new era begins with Martinez vs. Plantić with the WBC interim 168 lbs strap on the line. Sugar Ray Leonard won the inaugural WBC super middleweight title and the WBC light heavyweight title by defeating Donny Lalonde via a 9th-round TKO on November 7, 1988. The United Kingdom leads all nations with 7 different champions or reigns (Nigel Benn, Robin Reid, Richie Woodhall, Glenn Catley, Joe Calzaghe, and Carl Froch). The United States follows closely with 6 distinct titleholders (Ray Leonard, Andre Ward, Anthony Dirrell, Badou Jack, David Benavidez, and Terence Crawford). Canelo Alvarez holds the longest consecutive reign of the modern era, controlling the belt from 2020 through 2025. Milestone titleholders represent 13 different countries globally, reflecting the division’s international footprint. Nigel Benn holds the record for most successful defenses with 10. Saul Canelo Alvarez sits just behind him with 9 successful defenses. Nigel Benn vs. Chris Eubank II – October 9th, 1993. A monumental and brutal British domestic unification war. It ended in a dramatic split draw after twelve grueling rounds of non-stop action. Joe Calzaghe vs. Mikkel Kessler – November 3rd, 2007. A masterclass in boxing tempo and volume between two undefeated champions. It ended with Calzaghe securing a clear unanimous decision victory. Carl Froch vs. Jermain Taylor – April 25th, 2009. A dramatic battle where Froch was behind on the scorecards heading into the final moments. It ended with a stunning knockout with just seconds left in the twelfth round. Carl Froch vs. Arthur Abraham – November 27th, 2010. A disciplined tactical masterclass by the British champion in the Super Six tournament. It ended with a dominant unanimous decision win for Froch. Badou Jack vs. Anthony Dirrell – April 24th, 2015. A tightly contested world championship battle fought at a high technical pace. It ended with a majority decision victory awarding Jack the title. David Benavidez vs. Ronald Gavril – September 8th, 2017. A fierce and competitive battle for the vacant WBC championship. It ended with a close split decision win that made Benavidez the youngest champion in division history. David Benavidez was 20 years old. Saul Alvarez vs. Callum Smith – December 19th, 2020. A masterful display of pressure and body punching by the pound-for-pound star. It ended with a clear unanimous decision victory, starting Canelo’s road to undisputed status. Saul Alvarez vs. Billy Joe Saunders – May 8th, 2021. A high-level tactical matchup played out in front of a record-breaking crowd. It ended when Saunders’ corner stopped the fight after the eighth round due to a severe eye injury produced by a powerful Canelo uppercut. Saul Alvarez vs. Caleb Plant – November 6th, 2021. A grudge match to crown the division’s first-ever undisputed champion. It ended with a devastating flurry and two knockdowns in the eleventh round. Saul Alvarez had a brilliant run to crown himself undisputed, defeating 3 undefeated world champions. Christian Mbilli vs. Lester Martinez – September 13th, 2025. A modern phone-booth war featuring non-stop exchanges and incredible conditioning. It ended in a draw, and it was considered one of the best fights of the year. | Name | Championship Period | | 1. Ray Leonard (US) | 1988 -1990 | | 2. Mauro Galvano (Italy) | 1990 – 1992 | | 3. Nigel Benn (GB) | 1992 – 1996 | | 4. Thulane Malinga (South Africa) | 1996 | | 5. Vincenzo Nardiello (Italy) | 1996 | | 6. Robin Reid (UK) | 1996 – 1997 | | 7. Thulane Malinga (South Africa) * | 1997 – 1998 | | 8. Richie Woodhall (UK) | 1998 – 1999 | | 9. Markus Beyer (Germany) | 1999 -2000 | | 10. Glenn Catley (UK) | 2000 | | 11. Dingaan Thobela (South Africa) | 2000 | | 12. Dave Hilton (Canada) | 2000 | | 13. Eric Lucas (Canada) | 2001 – 2003 | | 14. Markus Beyer (Germany) * | 2003 – 2004 | | 15. Danny Green (Australia) Interim | 2003 – 2005 | | 16. Cristian Sanavia (Italy) | 2004 | | 17. Markus Beyer (Germany) * | 2004 – 2006 | | 18. Mikkel Kessler (Denmark) | 2006 – 2007 | | 19. Joe Calzaghe (UK) | 2007 | | 20. Carl Froch (UK) | 2008 – 2010 | | 21. Mikkel Kessler (Denmark) * | 2010 | | 22. Carl Froch (UK) * | 2010 – 2011 | | 23. Andre Ward (USA) | 2011 -2012 | | 24. Sakio Bika (Cameroon) | 2013 | | 25. Anthony Dirrell (USA) | 2014 – 2015 | | 26. Badou Jack (Sweden-USA) | 2015 – 2017 | | 27. David Benavidez (USA) | 2017 – 2018 | | 28. Anthony Dirrell (USA) * | 2019 | | 29. David Benavidez (USA) * | 2019 -2020 | | 30. Canelo Alvarez (Mexico) | 2020 – 2025 | | 31. David Benavidez (USA) * Interim | 2022 – 2024 | | 32. Cristian Mbilli (France) | 2025 – | | 33. Lester Martinez (Guatemala) Interim | 2026 – | * Regained The USC Galen Center card will feature a blockbuster showdown this Saturday, August 29, 2026, between two elite super middleweight knockout artists. The Guatemalan champion risks and stakes his interim crown against a Croatian challenger seasoned by Olympic experience and the WBC International belt. The show, produced by ProBox TV, will be broadcast live globally starting at 4:30 p.m. (Pacific). The super middleweight division will witness a monumental clash this Saturday, August 29, at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles, as Guatemala’s Lester Martínez puts his World Boxing Council interim world championship on the line for the first time against undefeated Croatian Luka “Thunder” Plantić. Martínez (20-0-1, 16 KOs), a historic benchmark for the sport in Central America after becoming his country’s first professional world champion, arrives at the pinnacle of his career after capturing the crown last March by defeating Immanuwel Aleem. With a reputation reinforced by formidable punching power and having accumulated valuable experience as a sparring partner for superstar Terence Crawford, the Petén fighter aims to solidify his position as mandatory challenger to the absolute 168-pound throne. While challenger Luka Plantić (13-0-0, 10 KOs) touches down on California soil, to engage in the most significant bout of his professional career. Enhancing the pre-fight narrative, the Croatian contender’s background and credentials reveal a high-caliber opponent representing the toughest test of Martínez’s career: “Plantić is no makeshift challenger; his Olympic tenure and victories in Europe prove he has the caliber to compete at the absolute top of the division. The clash of styles guarantees an explosive outcome,” highlighted members of the organizing committee prior to the official weigh-in. Event Details and Broadcast: