WBC flyweight champion Julio ‘El Rey’ Cesar Martinez 17-1 (13) is champing at the bit to get back in the ring to defend his title for the third time against Joel ‘El Trino’ Cordova 12-4-2 (3) at the Arena Alcalde in Guadalajara, Mexico on Saturday night.
The 26-year-old Mexican was twice scheduled to defend the title he won against Cristofer Rosales 31-5 (21) by ninth-round knockout in December 2019 against McWilliams Arroyo 21-4 (16) but the champion was ruled out both times with hand injuries.
“I am happy and excited to be back in the ring and have the chance to make up for lost time,” said Martinez. “It’s already been more than four months without a fight. I am so disappointed that two fights fell through but here’s hoping to return as I’ve always said, with everything except fear, and to always leave everything on the ring.
“It was the hand thing. I was boxing with super tough guys and in one clash, all good clashes by the way, I hit a guy in the head and my metacarpal swelled. I was going to move forward, but Mr Eddy Reynoso and Mr Mauricio Sulaimán saw the lesion and thought it was too swollen, so they opted to take care of me and not let me fight.
“Now I am happy but at the same time sad as I had great opportunities and because there you can see the support and thank God, I was given all the support by Mr Sulaimán, Mr Eddie Hearn and Mr Reynoso.”
Martinez made the first defence of his belt at Brit Jay Harris 18-1 (9) in February last year, beating him by unanimous decision. His second defence was an easy second-round knockout of Moises Calleros Garcia 34-10-1 (18) last October.
Mexican Cordova, 26, is well known to Martinez. He has not lost a fight in his past nine outings going back almost three years.
“We know Cordova and he knows it,” Martinez said. “It’s going to be a very good fight. I have boxed with him before. At one time, we sparred with him. We did a collaboration for el Gallito, sparring as part of an exhibition.
“The guy has a lot of heart, he also likes to go forward and I feel that a fight with a lot of action is going to be very good. And as always, let the best man win.
“As always, to do what I know, what I have trained for with my coach Mauricio Aceves. Attack, not get too crazy, take care of myself and move forward, throw out my combinations.
“We are ready for the twelve rounds or, God willing, the fight reaches a knockout.”
Also on the DAZN broadcast card Cuba’s Daniel Matellon 11-0-2 (6) will make the first defence of his interim WBA junior flyweight title against Jose Argumedo 24-4-1 (15).
