Kiko Martinez to Face Former Champ Hasegawa in Second Title Defense

With contracts signed and only the date and exact venue left to finalize, Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions, Gary Shaw Productions, Maravilla Box Promotions and Sampson Boxing are proud to announce that exciting IBF Junior Featherweight Champion Kiko "La Sensación" Martinez (30-4, 22 KOs) will make the second defense of his title in April against former two-time world champion Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan. 27-year-old Martinez became the country of Spain's first-ever world champion at 122 pounds by rising from obscurity to stop heavily favored Jonathan Romero in dramatic fashion in August of 2013. In his first defense, he announced his rightful place among the elite by defeating also-favored South African Jeffrey Mathebula by ninth-round knockout. A hero in his homeland despite the nation's refusal to televise his fights, Martinez is managed World Middleweight Champion Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez, no relation. 33-year-old southpaw Hasegawa, a former champion at featherweight and bantamweight, will be dropping down in weight to face Martinez and vie for his coveted third world title. He won the WBC Bantamweight Championship in 2005 and made 10 successful defenses, and then picked up the WBC Featherweight Championship in 2010. The important showdown should be a nail biter, as the smooth-boxing Hasegawa has developed a habit of fighting his way to a lead in big fights, only to run into trouble when caught by hard punches... a trait which may not bode well for him against the heavy-handed and relentless Martinez. All promoters say they exact date and venue will be announced very shortly.

ABOUT SAMPSON BOXING After a very successful run as a matchmaker and adviser, Sampson Lewkowicz switched over to the promotional side of professional boxing in January 2008. Sampson Boxing has grown into one of the world's most prestigious promotional firms, representing many of the world's best fighters and most promising young contenders. Sampson Boxing has promotional partners all over North and South America, Africa, Asia, New Zealand, Australia, Europe and Central America and Sampson Boxing events have been televised on such premiere networks as HBO, Showtime, ESPN, VS. and several international networks.

Maravilla Box to Make Impressive Promotional Debut in Argentina!

Two World Title Fights and Several Other Top Contenders in Action for World Champ Sergio Martinez in his Promotional Debut in Homeland of Argentina World Middleweight Champion Sergio "Maravilla" Martinez of Maravilla Box Promotions will make his promotional debut in his home country of Argentina on Saturday, November 3, in the city of Colon, in Entre Rios, Argentina, in a jam-packed night of professional boxing presenting two world title fights and several top contenders in important battles. Co-promoted by Maravilla Box, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing and Carlos Gonzalez of Best Box, the exciting night will feature in the 12-round main event, WBA #2 contender Roberto "La Araña" Vasquez (32-5, 22 KOs) of Panama City, Panama, taking on WBA #3 contender John Mark "Iceman" Apolinario (17-2-1 4 KOs) of Sarangani, Philippines, for the Interim WBA World Bantamweight Championship. The 29-year-old southpaw Vasquez is a former WBA World light flyweight Champion. 22-year-old Apolinario won the WBO Oriental Super Flyweight title in 2009. In the night's 10-round co-main event, Cecilia "La Reina" Comunales (9-1, 6 KOs) from Paysandu, Uruguay, will make the first defense of her WBA female lightweight title against Simone Da Silva Duarte (11-3, 4 KOs) from Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The 23-year-old Comunales won the title with a TKO 1 over Maribel Santana last March. On the jam-packed undercard: In a 10-round super featherweight bout, Israel Hector Enrique "Cachito" Perez (23-2-1, 13 KOs) from Oxnard, California via Buenos Aires, will face Orlen Padilla (19-3-1, 17 KOs) from Puerto Colombia, Colombia. In a 10-round featherweight bout, Jonathan "Salomon King" Guzman (8-0, 8 KOs) of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will face Emerson "The Winner" Santos Carvalho (10-3-1, 8 KOs) from Sao Paulo, Brazil. In another 10-round super featherweight bout, Fernando David "El Vasco" Saucedo (46-5-3, 4 KOs) from Buenos Aires, Argentina takes on Cristian El Tigre Palma (18-6-1, 5 KOs) from Lautaro, Chile. In a 10-round welterweight bout for the vacant WBA Fedelatin Welterweight Title, Azael "Turbo" Cosio (15-1-2, 12 KOs) from Santa Marta, Panama, will face Cesar Humberto Velez (11-3-1, 4 KOs) from Cordoba, Argentina. In an 8-round super lightweight bout, Juan Carlos "Merengue" Abreu (12-0, 11 KOs) Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will face Claudinei "Volcano" Lacerda (14-6, 10 KOs) from Sombrio, Santa Catarina, Brazil. And in another 10-round super featherweight bout, undefeated Braulio "El Chavo" Rodriguez (9-0, 9 KOs) from Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, will take on Roberto Santos de Jesus (14-7, 10 KOs) from Sao Paulo, Brazil. The beautiful City of Colón in Argentina is located on the western shore of the Uruguay River and lies opposite Paysandú, Uruguay. Colón is the center of an important tourist region, featuring high-quality hotels, a casino, and also a hot springs and associated facilities. The event will be televised by TyC Sports in Argentina, in Panama on RPC Channel 4, in Uruguay on VTV and on TV5 in the Philippines.