BoxRec

Mexico's Julio César 'Rey' Martínez and former Nicaraguan world champion Cristofer Rosales will collide on December 13 for the vacant flyweight world title of the World Boxing Council, according to the sanctioning body president Mauricio Sulaimán.



Sulaiman informed ESPN Deportes that Martinez and Rosales will clash for the title left vacant by British boxer Charlie Edwards.

"The fight between 'Rey' Martínez and former champion Cristofer Rosales is a fact, it was ordered and they have an agreement to meet on December 13, and we will be watching them in the fight for the vacant world championship. Martínez was seconds away from glory, a mistake as we all can make, took it away, but he has the opportunity to return," Sulaiman said.

Martinez is currently ranked at number one, and Rosales is second in the world. There were some doubts about whether or not Cristofer was going to be able to score 112 pounds, but they have confirmed to the organizers of the fight that it is a fact that he can make the division limit.

Regarding the headquarters of the contest, it seems that nothing has been defined. One of the possibilities is that the fight takes place Japanese soil. Cristofer is promoted by Akihiko Honda of Teiken Promotions, while the promotional firm of Eddy Reynoso, who handles Martinez', would have no problem going to Asian soil.

https://tinyurl.com/y37ulvub

Expect a WAR!

Martinez has signed a contract with Matchroom.

Eddie always does this. Always growing his stable.

“I’m so happy to sign with Matchroom Boxing USA and I can’t wait to challenge for the World title later this year,” said Martinez. “I know with Eddie Hearn and Eddy Reynoso I have the perfect team to take me all the way to the top and become a huge star in the sport.”

“It is a pleasure to start this alliance with the best promoter in boxing,” said Eddy Reynoso, Sport and Talent director at Canelo Promotions. “We will work very hard and with great enthusiasm to launch Mexican talents to the big boxing leagues!"

“This is a great signing for Matchroom Boxing USA and I’m delighted to team up with Eddy Reynoso and Canelo Promotions to work with Julio Cesar Martinez,” said Hearn. “Julio is a dangerous young fighter who will be in many exciting fights over the years. I believe with his style he has the chance to become a huge star in Mexico and we look forward to the journey together – first things first, the WBC World title in December.”

Press Release

Julio Cesar Martinez will challenge Cristofer Rosales for the vacant WBC World Flyweight title at the Talking Stick Resort Arena in Phoenix, Arizona on Friday December 20, live on DAZN in the US and on Sky Sports in the UK on the undercard of the Super-Middleweight blockbuster between Daniel Jacobs and Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.

TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW STARTING FROM $25 (plus booking fee)

Martinez (14-1 11 KOs) aims to land the title at the second attempt following his controversial clash with former champion Charlie Edwards in London in August, where the Mexican had Edwards in serious trouble in the third round after sending the champion to the canvas, but Martinez landed a bodyshot while Edwards was on the deck and the subsequent KO win for Martinez was overturned in the ring to a no-contest.

Edwards vacated the title to move to Super-Flyweight opening the door for Martinez to land the crown and the 24 year old will be aiming to resume his remarkable streak of KO wins which was stretched to eight in March when he stopped talented Welshman Andrew Selby inside five rounds in Mexico.

Rosales (29-4 20 KOs) is aiming to regain the title that he won in April 2018 in Japan with a ninth round stoppage win over Daigo Higa, and successfully defended the title against Northern Irishman Paddy Barnes with a stoppage win in Belfast four months later before surrendering the belt to Edwards in London on points in December.

“We’re going to fight against a World champion,” said Martinez. “We know it’s dangerous, that he’s a very good fighter, but the whole team has had a great camp. We’re bringing the title back to Mexico”

“We’ve worked very hard to prepare for this fight,” added said Eddy Reynoso, Sport and Talent director at Canelo Promotions. “We have all the confidence in Martinez. He’s a fighter with lots of heart. A Mexican fight who’s coming strong. He’s coming to win this fight.”

“Martinez is a very strong fighter who like to fight going forward,” said Rosales. “He is also very focused and determined. I am confident to regain my title and bring it back to Nicaragua.

“First of all, I am thankful to God. I want to thank Matchroom Boxing USA, Teiken and my manager William Ramirez/Wram boxing, for all his hard work and efforts toward getting me this opportunity. I am prepared and ready. I will give everything I got and will fight against Martinez.”

“This is a great fight for a big night and a real opportunity for our latest signing Julio Cesar Martinez to shine on a huge stage,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “Julio is an exciting talent and such a powerful puncher at 112lbs, we believe that he can dominate the division in 2020 – but Cristofer is a great fighter in his own right and will be determined to regain his title; there will be fireworks in this one.”

Aguilar must and can win it but this will be a body-shot contest.

Fight week

The biggest difference between them vs Edwards was that Julio was able to keep punching effectively moving forward, while Rosales needed to be set and hence got outmaneuvered by a mobile Edwards. Seems like should be a good fight

This is gonna be the weekends fight of the week.

Rosales sounds like a decent live dog

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.

Martinez is on quite a run.

Selby > Edwards > Rosales.

MOTN. What a fight! Martinez steamrolled his way to the win and finally got the belt he deserves.