The Mbilli Draw Revisited
The timing is notable. Martinez is coming off a 12-round draw with Christian Mbilli, a fight that generated debate over how it was officiated. Mbilli had consistent success at close range, landing compact combinations on the inside while Martinez repeatedly used his forearms and shoulders to create space. The referee deducted no points despite the frequency of the shoving, and many observers believed that the decision influenced the final scorecards.
Martinez did not lose officially, but the performance did not establish him as clearly ahead of the division’s leading contenders. Several middle rounds featured sustained inside exchanges where Mbilli appeared to be doing the cleaner, more effective work. The draw kept Martinez unbeaten, yet it left open questions about how he matches up against the upper tier at 168 pounds.
The interim request also lands at a moment of transition in the division. Terence Crawford’s retirement left sanctioning bodies scrambling to formalize new titleholders, and multiple belts have recently been upgraded or vacated. The WBC now faces another decision about how it defines interim status in a reshuffled landscape.
Ranking Depth at 168 Pounds
If the WBC approves the petition, the opponent selection will carry weight. Remove names such as Osleys Iglesias, Hamzah Sheeraz, Diego Pacheco, and Jaime Munguia from the available pool, and the list of credible interim level options narrows quickly. Those fighters are either positioned for larger opportunities or unlikely to accept this assignment.
The further down the rankings the selection goes, the more scrutiny the interim label will attract.
The WBC has not yet ruled on the request, but the approval itself may prove as significant as the name across from Martinez on March 21.
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