Lester Martinez is at the stage where pressure and combinations have to stand up against a man who won’t give him the rounds he’s used to taking.
Martinez (19-0-1, 16 KOs) does his best work when he steps in, sets his feet, and lets combinations go. He works the body, brings the right hand behind it, and keeps punching once he has a man backing up.
“You’re not Crawford, and I’m Lester Martinez, and that title is going home, back to Guatemala.”
Aleem (22-3-3, 14 KOs) is built for this kind of fight. Tight guard. Short counters. He doesn’t give ground unless he has to, and when he does, he takes half a step and comes back with something sharp.
“Champions are made in people’s backyards. You have to go and get the title.”
He understands how to handle pressure. Keep the lead hand active, pick the right hand when Martinez steps in, and avoid getting pinned along the ropes where the combinations start to build.
“Just follow the game plan, execute and gain the world title. Perform. Martinez is my main focus. Whatever he brings to the table, I need to be better at Saturday night. Whatever I need to do, do it. Do what we’ve been training for.”
The early rounds will show it. Martinez will try to step in behind his shots and let his hands go. Aleem will look to catch him as he comes forward, turning him and keeping him from getting set.
If Martinez gets into position, he can work. He sets his feet and lets the combinations rip, mixing in body shots to take the legs. That is where his offense starts to flow.
If Aleem holds his ground and keeps his feet under him, he can slow everything down. He doesn’t need volume. He needs clean work, sharp counters, and control of the exchanges.
Aleem has been through harder rounds. He knows how to stay composed when the pace stretches. Martinez still has to show that his gas tank and workrate hold over the full distance when the other man isn’t giving him openings.
Martinez has the heavier hands once he sets his feet. Aleem has the timing and ring IQ to make him miss and pay.
If Martinez steps in clean and keeps his combinations tight, he can take rounds late. If Aleem keeps turning him and landing the sharper shots, Martinez will be chasing the fight instead of building it.
The WBC interim belt puts the winner into mandatory position, but the title shot still has to be enforced. This functions as a final eliminator in practice, with the WBC using the interim belt to position its next mandatory at 168 pounds.
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