Martinez stops Rosales for flyweight world title
Julio Cesar Martinez won a vacant flyweight title in an action-packed slugfest with Cristofer Rosales, whom he knocked out in the ninth round in the co-feature.
Martinez (15-1, 12 KOs), 24, of Mexico, won the belt that eluded him on Aug. 31 in London when he challenged Charlie Edwards and dominated. The fight was initially ruled a third-round knockout win for Martinez but was changed to a no contest minutes later after a replay review because Martinez had landed a punch while Edwards was down. Rather than fight Martinez in a mandated rematch, Edwards elected to vacate the title and move up in weight. So Martinez faced former titlist Rosales for the vacant belt and claimed the 112-pound belt in an exciting battle.
The first round started fast, but the action dramatically increased in the second round as they traded toe to toe. Rosales rocked Martinez with a clean right hand as they engaged in an extended exchange. An accidental head-butt later in the round left Martinez with a cut on his right eyelid that dripped blood down his face.
They continued to blast away at each other in a nonstop action fight, and by the end of the fourth round Rosales was bleeding from his nose.
Although Rosales gave a game effort, Martinez was breaking him down. He was landing uppercuts and adroitly switching between left- and right-handed stances to keep Rosales off balance.
Martinez laid immense punishment on Rosales in the seventh round, and referee Raul Caiz Jr. was looking closely at stopping the fight late in the round as Martinez poured on the punishment.
In the ninth round, as Martinez unloaded numerous punches and forced Rosales to the ropes, Caiz finally stepped in and stopped the bout at 1 minute, 19 seconds.
"It was a very strong preparation," Martinez said through an interpreter. "
We came with everything and things worked our way. We knew Cristofer Rosales was going to be a tough fighter, but the tricks came out. We were able to perform and win the fight."
According to CompuBox, Martinez landed 231 of 490 (47%), and Rosales landed 118 of 591 (20%).
Martinez, who shares trainer Eddy Reynoso with Canelo Alvarez, said he would like to next have a unification fight.
"We want to follow Saul's footsteps and go for all the belts against whoever, wherever," Martinez said, referring to Alvarez.
Rosales (29-5, 20 KOs), 25, of Nicaragua, was trying to regain the belt he once held before losing it to Edwards by unanimous decision last December.
