The last thing the WBC interim super middleweight champion can afford is to underestimate the Croatian contender in a 12-round, 168-pound title fight designed to immediately move Martinez toward the winner between Canelo Alvarez and Christian Mbilli. The WBC mandated that whoever emerges victorious from the Mbilli-Alvarez clash October 31 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, must defend that title against Martinez or Plantic next.

Guatemala’s Martinez (20-0-1, 16 KOs), a 7-1 favorite according to DraftKings, expects to watch with great interest when Alvarez and Mbilli come back from 13-month layoffs.

“I don’t have a clear favorite in that fight,” Martinez told The Ring. “In reality, I think it’s 50-50. I’ve been in there with Mbilli, but I’ve watched both of them fight and I can’t pick a clear winner.”

If it were up to Martinez, he would prefer to battle Mexico’s Alvarez (63-3-2, 39 KOs), despite his unfinished business with the Montreal-based Mbilli (29-0-1, 24 KOs).

“I am focused on my fight, so it doesn’t matter,” Martinez said. “But if I had to choose one, I would rather fight Canelo [next] and then rematch Mbilli.”

Martinez and Mbilli engaged in one of the most compelling, competitive action fights of 2025 on the Alavarez-Terence Crawford undercard 11 months ago at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.

The WBC ordered a Martinez-Mbilli rematch just five days after their intensely contested, 10-round split draw. Martinez is still waiting for that chance, whereas Mbilli was eventually rewarded with a huge payday and the most significant fight of his nine-year pro career.

“To be honest, I’m no longer frustrated,” Martinez said. “About a week after the fight, yes, I was frustrated because I didn’t know what was going to happen. But all I could do was continue with my own career. I’m getting fights and it’s getting me to the level that I need, so I’m no longer frustrated.”

Martinez, 30, won the WBC interim crown when he comfortably beat American Immanuwel Aleem (22-5-3, 14 KOs) on points March 21 at Orange Show Events Center in San Bernardino, California.

The 29-year-old Plantic (13-0, 10 KOs) represents a different challenge in that he is an undefeated southpaw who is three years younger than Aleem.

“He is a very, very good boxer,” Martinez said, “but as far as if anything surprises us, there isn’t anything I haven’t seen. Even if this fight is complicated, we will figure out a way to win.”

Crawford, Martinez’s retired stablemate, helped him prepare for this fight in Crawford’s hometown of Omaha, Nebraska, where Martinez has trained the past few years.

Their sparring sessions attracted attention and naturally sparked speculation regarding a Crawford comeback. Martinez, The Ring’s No. 4 contender for a vacant championship, clarified, though, that Crawford was just trying to help his friend prepare for a fight.

“The contact was not as heavy [as normal], but we definitely had some real sparring,” Martinez said. “Obviously, he came in to see where he was, but it was a test for me. It was a few times, but it was solely to help me. It wasn’t for Terence.”

ProBox TV will stream Martinez-Plantic as the main event of a card from USC’s Galen Center.

Undercard coverage is scheduled to begin at 5 p.m. PT (8 p.m. ET) on ProBox TV’s YouTube channel. Martinez and Plantic are expected to make their ring walks at some point between 7:30 and 8 p.m. PT (10:30 and 11 p.m. ET).

“Everybody should tune in and watch this fight,” Martinez said, “because on the 29th I will leave no doubt as to why I should be facing the winner of Canelo and Mbilli.”