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17/09/2005
According to the Kyodo News, Gerardo Martinez will challenge WBC bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa in Yokohoma, Japan on September 25, 2005. Martinez will fill in for Diego Morales, who sustained a cut above his eye in sparring. Somehow, Martinez is rated #8 by the WBC despite losing two out of his last three to mediocre opponents. Martinez does not appear in Boxingtalk's top thirty. Meanwhile, another bantamweight title challenger, Manabu Fukushima, suffered a hamstring injury and will be out of action for at least three weeks, forcing the cancellation of his WBA fight against Wladimir Sidorenko. That bout was scheduled for October 15, 2005 at Tokyo's Korakuen Hall. -Scott Shaffer
