By Rey Colon

The undefeated Luis Cruz (17-0 and 14 KOs) confirmed that negotiations are well advanced for a fight on April 16 against the former champion of the WBO at 130-pounds, Roman "Rocky" Martinez (24-1-1 and 15 KOs). The fight will be the Showtime televised co-feature to Juan Manuel Lopez's defense of the WBO featherweight belt against Mexican Orlando Salido at the Ruben Rodriguez Coliseum in Bayamon.

"Negotiations are well advanced and I think now is the time to be in that fight. But for a fight like this, a semi-final main event at a major event on Showtime, must have good money for both Rocky and myself. It wont be easy, this is a really hard fight. He might not move around much in the ring, but it wont be easy. He was a champion and made three defenses. Rocky, I hope he comes well prepared or else the fight will be short," Cruz said.