THE SIDELINES : Fenech Closer to Another Title

MELBOURNE, Australia — Unbeaten Jeff Fenech of Australia moved one step closer to a fourth world title when he rallied from a sixth-round knockdown for a unanimous decision today over Mario Martinez in a super featherweight bout.

Fenech, who is 24-0, won the decision 117-113, 116-112 and 120-109 from the three Australian judges.

With the victory, Fenech earned the right to fight for the World Boxing Council super featherweight title early next year. The title is held by Azumah Nelson of Ghana, but Nelson is expected to move up to the lightweight division, vacating the title.

Fenech holds the WBC featherweight crown but is now expected to relinquish it. He previously held the WBC super bantamweight and IBF bantamweight crowns.