Croatian boxer attacks WBC belt: "This will be the night for Croatia"

Croatian boxer Luka Plantić has issued a bold challenge ahead of his upcoming fight against Guatemala's Lester Martinez, vowing that the night will belong to Croatia rather than Guatemala. The bout, scheduled for August 29 in Los Angeles, marks Plantić’s biggest professional opportunity yet as he seeks to claim the interim WBC title in the super-middleweight division. Plantić, 29, has compiled a perfect record of 13 wins with 10 knockouts in his 13 professional fights, while Martinez enters the match undefeated with 20 victories, one draw, and 16 knockouts. Plantić made his declaration in a promotional video released by ProBox TV, where he emphasized that Martinez had enlisted the help of Terence Crawford in his training camp. He argued that this move indicated fear on Martinez’s part, suggesting that even a fighter of Crawford’s caliber could not provide assistance once the bell rang and the two boxers were alone in the ring. Crawford, who recently returned to training after retiring in December last year following his victory over Canelo Alvarez, has been working with Martinez specifically to prepare for Plantić. Crawford’s involvement in Martinez’s camp has become one of the most talked-about aspects leading up to the fight. The American, now 38 years old, has spent recent weeks training alongside Martinez in Brian “BoMac” McIntyre’s gym, sparring with him to aid in his preparation for Plantić. Despite speculation about a potential return to active boxing, McIntyre dismissed such rumors earlier this week, stating that Crawford’s current focus is solely on helping Martinez ready himself for the Croatian opponent. The fight will take place on August 29 at the Galen Center in Los Angeles and is set to go the distance in 12 rounds. Martinez will be defending the interim WBC title he secured with a win over Immanuwel Aleem in March. Prior to that, he had drawn with Christian M'billi in September 2025 in one of the more notable matches in the super-middleweight division. For Plantić, this represents a defining moment in his career. A victory would elevate him to the status of interim world champion under one of the four major boxing organizations and bring him closer to contention for the full world title. ProBox TV has positioned the matchup between Martinez and Plantić as the main event of the evening, highlighting both fighters’ undefeated records heading into the contest. Plantić has further intensified the stakes by targeting the presence of Crawford in Martinez’s camp. In his promotional message, he suggested that the support of a legendary figure like Crawford would no longer be relevant come fight night. His confidence appears bolstered by the belief that Martinez’s reliance on Crawford indicates a lack of self-sufficiency in facing Plantić directly. The significance of this fight extends beyond individual ambition. For Croatia, Plantić’s performance could mark a pivotal moment in the country’s boxing history. If successful, he would represent a rare instance of a Croatian boxer capturing a major world title, potentially inspiring future generations of athletes in the sport. The outcome of the bout will likely have lasting implications for both fighters’ careers and their respective nations’ standing in international boxing circles.