Lester Martinez wore down Luka Plantic before stopping him in the tenth round to retain his interim WBC super middleweight title Saturday night, August 29, at the USC Galen Center in Los Angeles. Plantic made the opening rounds competitive, but his early aggression became increasingly difficult to sustain against Martinez’s combinations and body attack.
Exchanges grew heavier in the third and fourth. Martinez had blood on his face, but he continued working behind his jab and putting punches together. Plantic (13-1, 10 KOs) was competitive when he had the energy to attack.
By the middle rounds, Martinez was taking control. His body shots and sustained output forced Plantic to spend more time defending and holding. The challenger’s early bursts gave way to longer stretches in which Martinez dictated the action.
Plantic had enough offense to make Martinez fight, but he could not maintain his own work as the punishment accumulated. A heavy hook staggered him, and the later rounds brought more clean connections from the champion.
Martinez dropped Plantic in the tenth. Although the challenger got up, the referee stopped the contest shortly afterward. Plantic protested, but the knockdown followed several rounds in which the fight had been moving away from him.
Afterward, Martinez called for the winner of Canelo Alvarez versus Christian Mbilli. He described the Plantic defense as work required of him and made clear he was ready for either opponent. His draw with Mbilli gives him a reason to want that fight again, while Canelo offers the biggest payday in the division. Martinez has defended his interim belt; what remains unresolved is when he will get a shot at the full championship.
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Last Updated on 2026/08/30 at 1:33 AM
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