As previously reported, former two-division world champion Sergio “Maravilla” Martinez will fight for a title again.
A deal is in place for Martinez to face Italian fighter Etinosa Oliha, for the International Boxing Organization (IBO) middleweight belt, in Germany, on November 25.
The 48-year-old former beltholder is currently in Argentina and will soon travel to Spain to start camp.
He admits that before the world title opportunity came up, the future Hall of Famer was mulling the possibility of retiring for good.
Martinez initially retired in 2014 after suffering a knockout loss at the hands of Miguel Cotto.
He resumed his career in 2020 and has currently compiled a six fight win streak.
“Next Thursday I will return to Madrid to kill myself in training. Boxing-wise, this is the best thing that has happened to me in the last decade,” Martinez told Télam.
“I was with a foot and a half out of boxing. I didn’t feel like doing it anymore. That’s it, I told myself. All my world title chances had gone away, and I had no energy to continue. But four days ago, they called me, and it turns out that they offered me an IBO title fight. It is already agreed upon verbally and that’s wonderful.”
As far as Oliha, the 25-year-old fighter has a record of 18-0 and 8 KOs, Oliha has reigned since July 1, when in the German city of Wuppertal he beat Chilean Julio Alamos by a close unanimous decision. The future rival of “Maravilla” was born in Torino and resides in Asti, Piedmont.
“Inside the ring, nobody is easy, but this boy [has holes]. He’s very tall, he has a good reach, but he does not seem impossible to beat. Let’s just say that he is a good opponent to close this chapter, this stage of my life… It’s a wonderful gift,” said Martinez.