A highly anticipated rematch has been ordered following a phenomenal bout in Las Vegas.
On Saturday night at Allegiant Stadium, Terence Crawford defeated Canelo Alvarez to become the new undisputed super middleweight champion.
The fight was competitive but it was perfectly clear that ‘Bud’ won the vast majority of the rounds in a spectacular performance.
In the co-main event, Callum Walsh beat Fernando Vargas Jr. to remain undefeated in a clash that didn’t exactly earn its high placement on the card.
It was clear to many fans in hindsight that the fight that took place before it should have been moved one spot higher due to its show-stealing action.
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Christian M’billi vs Lester Martinez rematch ordered by the WBC
Canelo Alvarez may have beaten Terence Crawford in one key area, but the fight for the most part, was a stunning performance rather than a back and forth classic.
The same cannot be said for the WBC interim super middleweight bout between Christian M’billi and Lester Martinez that took place on the four-fight main card.
Both men went toe-to-toe with one another for 10 rounds, with the competitive nature of the fight being best defined by the fact that it went to a draw that produced few complaints from the fans.
On Wednesday, the WBC ordered the two undefeated competitors to start talks for an immediate rematch after M’billi kept hold of his belt.
Martinez had filed a request for a rematch, setting them up for a rematch that is going to attract a lot more attention this time around.
There will be a 30-day negotiation period for the parties to come to an agreement, though there is also a designated purse bid attached if this isn’t met.
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The winner of Christian M’billi vs Lester Martinez 2 could end up leaving with one of Terence Crawford’s belts
As the WBC interim super middleweight champion, Christian M’billi could have been declared as the mandatory challenger for the winner of the main event had he emerged victorious.
A fight with Terence Crawford could still await the winner of this rematch, though this seems unlikely for several reasons.
We don’t know whether ‘Bud’ will choose to continue fighting at super middleweight after moving up two weight classes and even if he does, both M’billi and Martinez aren’t going to be the biggest names on the table.
By the time this rematch happens, there could even be a scenario where the title that Crawford just won is put on the line if it’s clear that he isn’t going to defend it in the near future.