Boxing Social Staff · March 2026 · Super Middleweight · NOS Event Center, San Bernardino
There is something unfinished about Lester Martinez’s story, and the frustration is audible every time he speaks about it.
The 30-year-old from Guatemala City went twelve rounds with Christian Mbilli last September on a major Las Vegas card and produced what the WBC officially named its Fight of the Year. They landed 685 combined punches. The scorecards came back split — one judge had Martinez winning, two gave it to Mbilli. A rematch was ordered. Then Crawford retired, Mbilli was elevated to full champion, and the logistics fell apart.
So instead of the rematch he deserved, Martinez fights for the WBC interim super middleweight title on Saturday against Immanuwel ‘The Chosen One’ Aleem. It is not the fight the Guatemalan wanted. But it is the fight that keeps him on the path — and the dream of becoming his country’s first-ever world champion burns as brightly as ever.
Martinez vs Aleem Fight Time
The fight takes place Saturday, March 21, 2026 at the NOS Event Center (Orange Show Events Center), San Bernardino, California.
| Region | Main Card Starts | Main Event Ring Walk (Approx) |
|---|---|---|
| US & Canada (Eastern) | 8:00 PM ET | 11:00 PM ET |
| US & Canada (Pacific) | 5:00 PM PT | 8:00 PM PT |
| UK (GMT) | 1:00 AM GMT (Sunday) | 4:00 AM GMT (Sunday) |
| Central Europe (CET) | 2:00 AM CET (Sunday) | 5:00 AM CET (Sunday) |
How to Watch Martinez vs Aleem Live Online
The fight is available free of charge via ProBox TV’s YouTube channel in the UK and worldwide.
US Fans: Stream via ProBox TV — the service is available on multiple platforms. No subscription required.
Tickets for those attending in person are priced between $75 and $250 at the venue box office.
Martinez vs Aleem Tale of the Tape
| Fighter Facts | Lester Martinez | Immanuwel Aleem |
|---|---|---|
| Nickname | — | The Chosen One |
| Age | 30 | 32 |
| Record | 19-0-1 (16 KOs) | 22-3-3 (14 KOs) |
| Hometown | Guatemala City | Richmond, Virginia |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Height | 6’1″ | 5’11” |
| KO Ratio | 84% | 64% |
| WBC Ranking | #2 | #14 |
Fight Records — Last Five Bouts
Lester Martinez
| Result | Opponent | Method | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Draw | Christian Mbilli | SD 12 | Sep 2025 |
| Win | Joeshon James | KO 4 | Mar 2025 |
| Win | — | — | 2024 |
| Win | — | — | 2023 |
| Win | — | — | 2023 |
Immanuwel Aleem
| Result | Opponent | Method | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Win | Demond Nicholson | TKO 9 | Jul 2025 |
| Draw | Demond Nicholson | SD | 2023 |
| Loss | Ronald Ellis | — | 2022 |
| Draw | Matt Korobov | — | 2021 |
| Win | — | — | 2020 |
Martinez vs Aleem — Our Prediction
Aleem is a slippery, experienced operator and has been in these waters before — draws with Korobov, time-consuming in close, technically sound. But Martinez has an 84% knockout rate for a reason, and that reason is a power hand that even Mbilli, a warrior who has stopped everyone he has ever faced, could not comfortably handle.
Boxing Social says: Martinez by KO or TKO, rounds 6–9. Aleem can survive early, but the Guatemalan’s pressure and output will prove the difference down the stretch.
Closing Thoughts
The real prize here — and Martinez would be the first to say it — is not the WBC interim belt. It is the mandatory position it creates, and the path back toward Mbilli or toward Canelo Alvarez, who at 63-3-2 remains the most dominant name at 168 pounds. A convincing finish Saturday puts Martinez back in those conversations in a way that a narrow draw, however spectacular, never quite managed. He has been patient. His night is coming.
