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Aficianado

Martinez aids Argentina flood victims

Fighters Network
09
Apr

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RING middleweight champion Sergio Martinez and organizers of his April 27 defense against British contender Martin Murray are donating $100,000 in financial relief to flood victims in La Plata, the low-lying capital city of Buenos Aires province in Argentina.

According to the Associated Press, at least 52 people died in last week’s flooding, which was the result of heavy rains.



“I want to send my deepest condolences and all of my sympathy to the people of Buenos Aires. What has happened there is terrible,” said Martinez, whose fight with Murray in the nation’s capital city, from which the Buenos Aires province takes its name, was to represent a triumphant homecoming for the veteran road warrior.

Martinez (50-2-2, 28 knockouts), 38, is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. (46-1-1, 32 KOs) to take the WBC belt last September.

“Along with the organizers of my fight, we have decided to donate $100,000 to Caritas La Plata to help assist the families that were affected by this tragedy,” continued Martinez’s statement. “Do not stand in front of your TV watching and regretting what has happened. Stand up and donate what you can.”

Murray (25-0-1, 11 KOs) fought ex-WBA beltholder Felix Sturm to a draw in December of 2011, and is coming off November’s sixth-round stoppage of previously unbeaten Jorge Navarro (12-1, 10 KOs).

Photo by Chris Farina, Top Rank

Lem Satterfield can be reached at [email protected]

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