Azumah Nelson vs Mario Martinez

On February 29, 1988, at the Great Western Forum in Inglewood, California, Azumah Nelson faced Mario "Azabache" Martinez for the vacant WBC World Super Featherweight Title. With a record of 26-1-0, Nelson weighed in at 129½ pounds, while Martinez, standing at 46-3-2, came in at 129 pounds.

The bout was a closely contested battle, which Nelson said after retirement, was the hardest fight of his career. In the 10th round, Martinez managed to score a knockdown, a pivotal moment that added tension to the judges' final decision. After 12 rounds, the judges' scores reflected the competitiveness of the fight: Terry Smith scored 115-113 for Nelson, Marty Sammon had 114-113 in favour of Martinez, and Rudy Ortega saw it 115-113 for Nelson, resulting in a split decision victory for Azumah Nelson.

This victory marked Nelson's ascent in the super featherweight division, adding the WBC title to his accolades. The fight is notable for its intensity and the resilience shown by both boxers, particularly Nelson's ability to recover from the knockdown and secure the win.

Co-man event was the vacant WBC World Super Bantamweight title fight between Daniel Zaragoza and Carlos Zarate which Zaragoza won by 10th round Tko.