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Javier Maciel will now face Jorge Melendez on June 7 as part of the Cotto vs Martinez HBO pay-per-view undercard, as Yuri Foreman has withdrawn from the bout, according to ESPN.com.
Luciano Cuello was the first choice to replace Foreman, but Cuello had just fought last weekend, and couldn't make it back to the ring without taking a serious risk. Maciel, however, last fought on April 19, a 10-round win at home in Argentina, following a close loss last October in the United Kingdom against Brian Rose.
Maciel (28-3, 20 KO) figures to make for a better fight in just about every way than Foreman would have, so it's hardly bad news for boxing fans. If anything, this dreadfully cheap undercard gets a bit of a boost, though it's still pretty lousy.
Foreman "retired" last week (or announced a retirement anyway) due to a contract dispute with his manager. He hasn't been in a significant fight since he was manhandled by Pawel Wolak in March 2011, but did return to the sport last year and had won four in a row against lower-level opposition.