LONDON — Matchroom Boxing have announced the signing of long-reigning WBO flyweight champion Anthony Olascuaga, with multiple reports alleging that “Princesa” will make his promotional debut against Olympic silver medallist Yuberjen Martinez on the Diego Pacheco vs Darius Fulghum show on 14 November.
Olascuaga (12-1, 9 KO) first made his name by stepping up on short notice to face Kenshiro Teraji in 2023, then stopping Giemel Magramo by knockout five months later. He has been on a tear since, taking the WBO belt with a sensational knockout of Riku Kano and adding five title defences, including wins over “Bomba” Gonzalez and Hiroto Kyoguchi. Young, capable and hugely entertaining, he has lacked only a major platform, which a slot on TNT should now provide.
Colombia’s Martinez (7-0, 7 KO) arrives with elite amateur pedigree. He reached the final at Rio 2016 before falling to Hasanboy Dusmatov and won twice at Tokyo 2020 before a quarter-final defeat to Ryomei Tanaka. At 34, however, his professional résumé remains thin; his first six wins came against modest opposition at home, while his most recent victory — which carried a WBO trinket — saw him travel to Panama to beat Angel Bethancourt.
The match-up remains reported rather than officially confirmed for the Pacheco vs Fulghum card, but Martinez’s pedigree offers intrigue against a champion who has built momentum through activity and knockouts. For Olascuaga, the move to Matchroom brings wider exposure for a reign that has so far unfolded largely away from the brightest lights.