What happened to Martinez-Zbik?

http://boxing.fanhouse.com/2010/12/...bastian-zbik-possible-for-march-miguel-cotto/

In facing the German interim belt-holder, however, Lewkowicz said that Martinez is honoring a WBC mandate that he defend his crown. Martinez's promoter,

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, and, Zbik's promoter, Unversum, have a few weeks to make the deal or else be subject to a purse bid to take place on Jan. 7 in Mexico City.

http://www.theboxingexaminer.com/?p=9863

Jose Sulaiman Ch.
President
November 24, 2010

MR. DAVID LEMIEUX
MR. MARCO ANTONIO RUBIO

Dear friends:

Serve this letter to initiate the free negotiations period for the final eliminator fight between number 3 rated David Lemieux, from Canada and number 4 rated Marco Antonio Rubio, from Mexico, to determine the mandatory contender of the middleweight division.

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If there is no agreement between the parties, the WBC will conduct a purse offer on Friday, January 7, 2011 in Mexico City.

Please accept my sincere regards.
Jose Sulaiman Ch.
____________________________

-Now we have Martinez-Dzin in the making, or confirmed for all I know. Zbik is taking a backseat because HBO told the WBC they wouldn't even show that fight. Would they ever? Is Zbik out of the championship picture now, only because HBO (vs WBC) doesn't think he's worthy of being in the same ring as Martinez?

-This means no Martinez-Zbik purse bid tomorrow. However, the Lemieux-Rubio purse bid is still on, and that fight is supposed to give Martinez a mandatory contender as said above by Jose. Mandatory contender to what middleweight title, may I ask?

I think it's implicit that the winner of Lemieux-Rubio will be the Interim titlist's mando, i.e. Zbik's. The winner of that fight can then claim to be Martinez' official mando for 2011.

Why was there not a presser to explain why Zbik is taking a backseat in Martinez' schedule? If the WBC mandates a purse bid for Martinez-Zbik to go down on Jan 7th... why is there no info whatsoever, anywhere, that explains why the fight is off as opposed to just announcing Martinez-Dzin?

Is Universum protecting Zbik so much that THEY don't want him in the ring with Martinez? Are they aware of the fact Zbik could be forced to face Lemieux instead? If I were Zbik, I'd rather go down against a proven P4P fighter (Maravilla) than be the first MW 'name' to be a victim of young David's.

 

So, no matter WTF he does, Zbik will never be able to get a shot at Martinez? And the WBC is happy to trash this compulsory defence mandate only because HBO doesn't want Zbik? What about Universum, are they not crying wolf that Martinez should be 'forced' to fight Zbik rather than a JMW?

It just sounds like Universum is afraid to deal with Martinez, and like HBO sanctions the champ's compulsory defences - not the WBC.

What if Lemieux completely destroys Rubio and GYM claims David to be Martinez' mando? Will HBO tell both the WBC & GYM to go **** themselves because they're not interested in showing Lemieux? I doubt that Lemieux-Rubio makes it to HBO, so why would they be?! Lemieux might get screwed as bad as Zbik was if the WBC doesn't stop this nonsense. What a bunch of pussies.

 

http://www.fightnews.com/Boxing/chavez-to-face-lyell-71709

Chavez Jr is taking Lyell as a prep fight for Zbik, it seems. The winner of Zbik-Chavez Jr will probably meet the winner of the Lemieux-Rubio 'final eliminator' in a final-final (!!) eliminator so Martinez' mando can be officialized. I doubt that Martinez' next compulsory defence goes down before the end of the year, since we'll have to wait for 2, possibly 3 fights to take place beforehand starting in April.

[Silver Champ vs Interim Champ] vs [International Champ vs #4 guy]...

...just to determine who will be shoved down Sergio's throat as the one and only mandatory contender.

It's almost as bad as the Super, Regular, Interim and International Champ situation at the WBA.

 

I don't know man, HBO seems to think Martinez-Zbik would be awful. They rejected him as Sergio's opponent for March, don't know if they would entertain a later date... but Martinez-Dzinziruk sounds close to a done deal. If Zbik indeed fights Chavez Jr on March 26th as reported by fightnews, I wonder when Zbik thinks he's gonna get his hands on Martinez. Might very well have to go through Lemieux, which he ain't doing. :smoke

****, when did they announce the delay for the Lemieux-Rubio purse bid?! Any reason why it's pushed back a couple weeks?

 

Unless Martinez-Zbik suddenly gets back in their planning for March or even next summer, it sounds like the WBC will strip Martinez of his belt. I even wonder if Lemieux-Rubio could be switched to Lemieux-Zbik for the regular title, provided the WBC doesn't let HBO run the whole championship business. :think

 

I never said it wouldn't be an awful fight... point is, HBO and Showtime are forcing fighters to go against rules/orders that come from sanctioning bodies. That ain't right. Don't care if Zbik is awful or not, Martinez with no belt doesn't jive with his P4P, let alone top MW status.

 

Are you saying Dzinziruk is a big name? It's a good fight, granted, but the average American doesn't know Dzin. How is HBO quantifying potential for ratings when comparing Zbik, Lee to Dzin? Neither of them is a big name. Only Dzin holds a belt (JMW mind you), but at the same time Dzin is the only one out of the three who can hold his own against Martinez.

IMO, HBO isn't doing Martinez any favor by pushing for a Dzin fight thereby challenging the WBC to strip him of his belt.