WBC interim super middleweight champion Lester Martinez and his upcoming challenger, Luka “The Thunder” Plantic, went face to face for the first time today, at a press conference to promote their August 29th showdown, live on ProBoxTV (7:30 PM ET/4:30 PM PT) from the Galen Center in Los Angeles. Martinez (20-0-1 with 16 KOs) of Guatemala City and Zagreb, Croatia’s Plantic (13-0 with 10 KOs), will meet in the twelve-round main event on a card that also features light-heavyweight Najee Lopez (16-0 with 13 KOs), taking on Colombian slugger Juan Carrillo (15-0 with 11 KOs). Also scheduled is an appearance by super bantamweight Ramon Cardenas, as well fan-friendly warriors Luis “Koreano” Torres and Weljon Mindoro in separate bouts, plus a full lineup of “Future Stars” series prospects who will be announced shortly. Here is what the fighters andtheir trainers,had to say:

 

Lester Martinez

 

First and foremost, good afternoon. Thank you everybody for being here. I will be defending my title on August 29th. There's no doubt the title is staying in Guatemala and I'm gonna continue being the world champion. That I can assure you.

 

There was a lot of pressure last time out. There was a lot of pressure winning the belt and performing. There were other things, but we learned from them… there's always room for improvement. Aleem showed good resistance (he was) a very good, strong opponent. But this time around, we're gonna do things much better, trust me.

 

We’re fighting a very dangerous opponent. There’s a reason he’s here. He’s in the top 10. He undefeated and he’s earned that. But we’re going to make the adjustments. Our camp is going to be longer this time.

 

Of course, I'm going to be looking at this fight coming up with Canelo and Mbilli. I'm going to be one of the most interested… (but) right now, my immediate focus is on Luka and taking care of business on August 29th, defending my title. Then we can look forward to that tremendous fight and hope that, yes, or yes, we fight the winner.

 

I'm gonna train very hard. I'm gonna do everything I can to make things work, so I can defend my title, and then move on to fight either the rematch (against Mbilli) or the fight against Canelo. I hope that after my fight, my defense, that's the fight that comes next. And we will be more than ready for that fight too.

 

This will be my third time as a main event on ProBoxTV. I'm very grateful for the opportunities the platform has given me. And this is gonna be a great fight. There's gonna be tremendous attendance, and not just our fight. The undercard, as well, is gonna be very good.

 

I don’t care about fighting Jaime Munguia.

 

Luka Plantic

 

I know he’s a good fighter, and we will prepare very good for him. We are looking at his every move, his every punch. I study him. I don't see anything (Martinez does wrong). I only see in the ring, and that's it. I’ll see you in the ring and the belt is coming to Croatia. I’m here for the WBC interim title and to face Canelo next.

 

Yes, I feel I will steal the show. You will see a war. I will show all of you on August 29. We are going to change Guatemala night to Croatia night.

 

I see a great fight. I see great fighters, and I know me. I know everything will be mine. I know I’m going up. This is a 50/50 fight. Thank you for supporting me in Croatia. We are going for the belt, and the belt is coming home.

 

Najee Lopez

 

Every fight now is a tough fight. But this fight lines me up. It gives me a line for a world title, so I'm really excited. (Carrillo is) definitely a good fighter, a smart guy, but I'm just too smart, too fast, too strong. And the question is, will he be able to handle it?

 

There's no pressure at all. I put the work in, my team, we focus. We're super focused. We are super locked in for whatever challenges is in our way. It's just the journey. So, I understand that every fight, from now on, is gonna be on that level.

 

Man, my grandparents is from Puerto Rico, from the island. My dad was my trainer and my teacher. Everything he taught me was from those roots. So, every time I walk in a walk in a ring, not only am I representing where I'm from, Atlanta, Georgia, but I also, when you have the last name Lopez, I'm representing the island. I'm representing my roots. Puerto Rico has to know I love my people. I rep my last name with everything in me.bShout out to ProBox. It's going to be an amazing card. August 29th. Be there.

 

Juan Carrillo

 

First of all, I want to thank God. I want to thank ProBox for giving me this opportunity. Yes, I was an Olympian and this opportunity, I'm taking it like the best opportunity in my in my life and my career, and you guys will see.

 

He's playing with my family's food. I am going to go out there and show the world that I am the next big name out there and gonna be the next superstar.

 

I'm very excited. I'm very happy to be part of this event. All the Latinos in this area are going to enjoy a great night of boxing. Everybody come out August 29th. You’re going to see a great spectacle.

 

Bob Santos (Juan Carrillo's Trainer)

 

I love his ability to fight on all three levels. He can fight on the inside; he can fight at a distance; he can fight at the mid-range. So, what is there not to love? You know, you got a Colombian, Olympian southpaw, and a full-grown man in his prime, so we're expecting a tremendous fight. We know Najee's a tremendous talent, too. The winner is going to be the fans, so we're really excited about that.

 

Marc Farrait (Najee Lopez Trainer)

 

Najee has a great foundation as his father said, you know, when he was here. Najee is a kid that gives everything in the gym, very disciplined outside the ring. Najee is easy to train. As you saw in this last fight, if you train hard, you’re disciplined and you're devoted to the sport, you have outcomes like his last fight.