The Congress of the Republic approved this Tuesday, April 28, the allocation of economic resources in recognition of the sporting results achieved by boxers Lester Martínez and Joshua Kevin Antón on international stages.
The decision was endorsed by the plenary session, which authorized Q500 thousand for Martínez and Q200 thousand for Antón, with the aim of supporting his performance and projection in professional boxing.
During the discussion, it was highlighted that the achievements obtained by the athletes position Guatemala in high-level competitions and contribute to the country’s visibility in the sports field. In this context, the deputies considered that financial support constitutes an incentive measure to strengthen the development of national talents that compete abroad.
The approved support also seeks to set a precedent in the recognition of athletes who obtain international titles, especially in disciplines that do not always have constant funding.
Lester Martínez made history on March 21, 2026 by defeating the American Immanuwel Aleem by unanimous decision, with a score of 119-109, in San Bernardino, California, and being crowned interim super middleweight world champion of the World Boxing Council (WBC). With this victory, the Petenero raised his undefeated record to 20 wins, zero losses and one draw, and became Guatemala’s first world boxing champion.
The 168-pound interim super middleweight title is an official WBC distinction that places Martínez at the top of his division’s rankings and grants him rights over the future of the category, including demanding a fight against the absolute champion.
On the same evening, Joshua Kevin Antón also obtained an outstanding result on March 21 at the National Orange Show Event Center, in San Bernardino, California. The 27-year-old boxer defeated Kudratillo Abdukakhorov by technical knockout and won the WBC continental super welterweight title in the penultimate fight of the card.
Antón was born in Granada Hills, California, but has Guatemalan roots and represented Guatemala on that evening. He arrived with a record of 12 wins, 11 knockouts and no losses or draws, which consolidates him as one of the boxers of Guatemalan origin with the greatest projection in the United States professional circuit.
With this victory, the Huehueteco continues to rise in his category, where he is ranked 22nd in the world super welterweight ranking, also known as junior middleweight.