This past Thursday, April 16, Lester Martínez continued to earn recognition for carrying Guatemalan pride into boxing’s bigger conversations.
Just weeks after I wrote about the framing of his title win in my zine, questioning the narrative of “firsts” and what it really means to represent Guatemala on the global stage, Martínez stood inside the Palacio Nacional de la Cultura and received the country’s highest civil honor. The Orden Presidencial, awarded by President Bernardo Arévalo, reflected a country catching up to what he’s already been doing in the ring.
“Lester subió al ring invicto y bajó como campeón del mundo,” Arévalo said during the ceremony. “En nombre del pueblo de Guatemala, te entregamos la medalla presidencial… sabemos que tu vida y esfuerzo continuará dando muchas alegrías.”
“Lester stepped into the ring undefeated and walked out as a world champion. On behalf of the people of Guatemala, we present you with the Presidential Medal… we know your life and effort will continue to bring great joy.”
It’s well-deserved. On March 21 in San Bernardino, California, Martínez didn’t leave room for interpretation. Scores of 120-108, 118-110 and 119-109 over Immanuwel Aleem told a clear story. No controversy, like his bout against Christian Mbilli, just control across 12 rounds to secure the interim WBC super middleweight title.
Those are the performances that built this moment, even if they happened far from home.
Martínez, now 20-0-1 with 16 knockouts, acknowledged the recognition but stayed locked in on what’s ahead.
“Hoy podemos decir con todo orgullo… que Guatemala tiene campeón mundial interino y pronto tendrá campeón mundial absoluto en las 168 libras,” he said. “Este bendito título nos da la oportunidad para seguir luchando por muchas cosas más.”
“Today we can proudly say… that Guatemala has an interim world champion, and soon it will have a full world champion at 168 pounds. This blessed title gives us the opportunity to keep fighting for many more things.”
What comes next carries its own weight. The WBC has already mandated two defenses of his interim title, a route that can either sharpen his claim or slow his momentum depending on how it plays out. It’s familiar territory in a division where timing and politics often move as loudly as performances.
Still, Martínez leans into it with the same mindset.
“Voy a ser campeón mundial… las palabras tienen poder,” he said. “Que su fe sea más grande que sus miedos.”
“I am going to be a world champion… words have power. Let your faith be greater than your fears.”
That belief has been consistent since he turned pro in 2019. Active, disciplined, and building a résumé that keeps demanding more, whether the opportunities line up cleanly or not.
And while the spotlight is finally widening, those closest to him see the impact going beyond one fighter.
“I feel happy for the love he’s getting from the Guatemalan people, and he’s opening doors for younger athletes,” his trainer, Esau Diegez, told Boxing Social. “Hopefully the people sponsoring and recognizing him can also reciprocate to the younger boxers because they need help too.”
That’s the part that lingers. The recognition matters, but what it builds after matters more. Martínez has already done his part forcing Guatemala into the conversation. Whether that moment turns into something bigger for the next wave is what comes next.
With the WBC’s inconsistency regarding their belts and mandatories and Canelo still in the mix, Martinez’s journey to a “real” belt might depend more on politics than his accomplishments. Regardless, his country is now more behind him than ever before, and carrying that into the ring is a victory in itself.
Read Vol. 3, Issue 8 of What I Miss?
