{"id":107649,"date":"2023-12-11T15:30:25","date_gmt":"2023-12-11T21:30:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/?p=107649"},"modified":"2023-12-11T15:30:25","modified_gmt":"2023-12-11T21:30:25","slug":"wbc-special-preview-martinez-vs-cordova","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wbc-special-preview-martinez-vs-cordova\/","title":{"rendered":"WBC Special Preview: Martinez vs. Cordova"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>WBC Special Preview: Martinez vs. Cordova<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>WBC Flyweight World Championship<\/p>\n<p>December 16, 2023 \/ Minneapolis, Minnesota \/ The Armory<\/p>\n<p><strong>TGB PROMOTIONS PRESENTS:<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\" wp-image-107660 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image001-15.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"926\" height=\"550\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image001-15.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image001-15-300x178.jpg 300w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image001-15-768x457.jpg 768w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image001-15-245x146.jpg 245w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image001-15-50x30.jpg 50w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image001-15-126x75.jpg 126w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/image001-15-960x571.jpg 960w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 926px) 100vw, 926px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong>JULIO CESAR \u201cEl Rey\u201d MARTINEZ (Mexico)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>WBC Flyweight World Champion \/ 7th Title Defense<\/p>\n<p>Age: 28 \/ Date of birth: January 17, 1995<\/p>\n<p>Residence, birthplace: Mexico City, Distrito Federal, Mexico<\/p>\n<p>Record: 20-2, 2 NC, 15 KOs \/ Total rounds: 123 \/ World championship fights: 6-0, 2 NC, 4 KOs<\/p>\n<p>Height: 5\u20192\u201d \u2013 157cm \/ Reach: 64\u201d \u2013 163cm \/ Stance: Right-handed<\/p>\n<p>Manager, trainer: Eddy Reynoso<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p><strong>ANGELINO \u201cHuracan\u201d CORDOVA (Venezuela)<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Ranked WBC #13 at 112 pounds\u2026<\/p>\n<p>Age: 28 \/ Date of birth: October 6, 1995<\/p>\n<p>Residence: Roselle Park, New Jersey \/ Birthplace: Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela<\/p>\n<p>Record: 18-0-1, 12 KOs \/ Total rounds: 85<\/p>\n<p>Height: 5\u20194\u201d \u2013 162cm \/ Reach: 65.5\u201d \u2013 166cm \/ Stance: Right-handed<\/p>\n<p>Manager: Oscar Navarro \/ Trainer: Jose Nieves<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>WBC FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS<\/h3>\n<p>1. Pone Kingpetch (Thai)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01963<\/p>\n<p>2. Hiroyuki Ebihara (Jap)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01963 \u2013 1964<\/p>\n<p>3. Pone Kingpetch (Thai) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01964 \u2013 1965<\/p>\n<p>4. Salvatore Burruni (Italy)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01965 \u2013 1966<\/p>\n<p>5. Walter McGowan (GB)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1966<\/p>\n<p>6. Chartchai Chionoi (Thai)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01966 \u2013 1969<\/p>\n<p>7. Efren Torres (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1969 \u2013 1970<\/p>\n<p>8. Chartchai Chionoi (Thai) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01970<\/p>\n<p>9. Erbito Salavarria (Phil)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01970 \u2013 1971<\/p>\n<p>10. Betulio Gonzalez (Ven)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01972<\/p>\n<p>11. Venice Borkorsor (Thai)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01972 \u2013 1973<\/p>\n<p>12. Betulio Gonzalez (Ven) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01973 \u2013 1974<\/p>\n<p>13.\u00a0Shoji Oguma (Jap)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1974 \u2013 1975<\/p>\n<p>14. Miguel Canto (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1975 \u2013 1979<\/p>\n<p>15. Chan-Hee Park (Kor)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01979 \u2013 1980<\/p>\n<p>16. Shoji Oguma (Japan) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1980 \u2013 1981<\/p>\n<p>17. Antonio Avelar (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1981 \u2013 1982<\/p>\n<p>18. Prudencio Cardona (Col)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01982<\/p>\n<p>19. Freddie Castillo (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1982<\/p>\n<p>20. Eleoncio Mercedes (DR)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01982 \u2013 1983<\/p>\n<p>21. Charlie Magri (GB)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1983<\/p>\n<p>22. Frank Cede\u00f1o (Phil)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1983 \u2013 1984<\/p>\n<p>23. Koji Kobayashi (Jap)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1984<\/p>\n<p>24. Gabriel Bernal (Mex)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1984<\/p>\n<p>25. Sot Chitalada (Thai)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1984 \u2013 1988<\/p>\n<p>26. Yong-Kang Kim (Kor)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1988 \u2013 1989<\/p>\n<p>27. Sot Chitalada (Thai) *\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01989 \u2013 1991<\/p>\n<p>28. Muangchai Kittikasem (Thai) 1991 \u2013 1992<\/p>\n<p>29. Yuri Arbachakov (Russia)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 1992 \u2013 1996<\/p>\n<p>30. Chatchai Sasakul (Thai)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01997 \u2013 1998<\/p>\n<p>31. Manny Pacquiao (Phil)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01998 \u2013 1999<\/p>\n<p>32. Medgoen Singsurat (Thai)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a01999 \u2013 2000<\/p>\n<p>33. Malcolm Tunacao (Phil)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2000 \u2013 2001<\/p>\n<p>34. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thai) 2001 \u2013 2007<\/p>\n<p>35. Jorge Arce (Mexico) (Interim) 2005 \u2013 2006<\/p>\n<p>36. Daisuke Naito (Japan)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2007 \u2013 2009<\/p>\n<p>37. P. Wonjongkam (Thai) (Interim) * 2009<\/p>\n<p>38. Koki Kameda (Japan)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2009 \u2013 2010<\/p>\n<p>39. Pong. Wonjongkam (Thai) *\u00a0 2010 \u2013 2012<\/p>\n<p>40. Sonny Boy Jaro (Phil)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2012<\/p>\n<p>41. Toshiyuki Igarashi (Japan)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2012 \u2013 2013<\/p>\n<p>42. Akira Yaegashi (Japan)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2013 \u2013 2014<\/p>\n<p>43. Roman Gonzalez (Nic)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2014 \u2013 2016<\/p>\n<p>44. Juan Hernandez (Mexico)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2017<\/p>\n<p>45. Daigo Higa (Japan)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2017 \u2013 2018<\/p>\n<p>46. Cristofer Rosales (Nic)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2018<\/p>\n<p>47. Charlie Edwards (GB)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 2018 \u2013 2019<\/p>\n<p>48. Julio Cesar Martinez (Mexico) 2019 \u2013<\/p>\n<p>*Regained<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>WBC TOP 10 FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS<\/h3>\n<p>1. Miguel Canto (Mexico)<\/p>\n<p>2. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand)<\/p>\n<p>3. Chartchai Chionoi (Thailand)<\/p>\n<p>4. Efren Torres (Mexico)<\/p>\n<p>5. Yuri Arbachakov (Russia)<\/p>\n<p>6. Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua)<\/p>\n<p>7. Sot Chitalada (Thailand)<\/p>\n<p>8. Akira Yaegashi (Japan)<\/p>\n<p>9. Betulio Gonzalez (Venezuela)<\/p>\n<p>10. Shoji Oguma (Japan)<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE FLYWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY<\/h3>\n<p>42 world champions have been recognized by the WBC, of whom only six have regained the title: Pone Kingpetch (Thailand), Chartchai Chionoi (Thailand), Betulio Gonzalez (Venezuela), Shoji Oguma (Japan), Sot Chitalada (Thailand), Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand).<\/p>\n<p>156 flyweight world championship bouts have been held in WBC history<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h3>MEMORABLE WBC FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS:<\/h3>\n<p>May 6, 2023\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Julio Cesar Martinez TKO11 Ronal Batista \u2013 Zapopan, Jalisco<\/p>\n<p>Dec. 3, 2022\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Julio Cesar Martinez W12 Samuel Carmona \u2013 Glendale, Arizona<\/p>\n<p>June 26, 2021\u00a0\u00a0Julio Cesar Martinez TKO6 Joel Cordova \u2013 Guadalajara, Jalisco<\/p>\n<p>Oct. 23, 2020\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Julio Cesar Martinez TKO2 Moises Calleros \u2013 Mexico City, Distrito Federal<\/p>\n<p>Dec. 20, 2019\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Julio Cesar Martinez TKO9 Cristofer Rosales \u2013 Phoenix, Arizona<\/p>\n<p>Dec. 22, 2018\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Charlie Edwards W12 Cristofer Rosales \u2013 London, England<\/p>\n<p>Apr. 15, 2018\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Cristofer Rosales TKO9 Daigo Higa \u2013 Kanagawa, Japan<\/p>\n<p>May 20, 2017\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daigo Higa TKO6 Juan Hernandez \u2013 Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n<p>Apr. 23, 2016\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Roman Gonzalez W12 McWilliams Arroyo \u2013 Inglewood, California<\/p>\n<p>Sep. 5, 2014\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Roman Gonzalez TKO9 Akira Yaegashi \u2013 Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n<p>Apr. 8, 2013\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Akira Yaegashi W12 Toshiyuki Igarashi \u2013 Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n<p>Mar. 27, 2010\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pongsaklek Wonjongkam W12 Koki Kameda \u2013 Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n<p>Nov. 29, 2009\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Koki Kameda W12 Daisuke Naito \u2013 Saitama, Japan<\/p>\n<p>July 18, 2007\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Daisuke Naito W12 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam \u2013 Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n<p>July 30, 2005\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Jorge Arce TKO3 Angel Priolo \u2013 La Paz, Baja California<\/p>\n<p>Mar. 2, 2001\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pongsaklek Wonjongkam TKO1 Malcolm Tunacao \u2013 Phichit, Thailand<\/p>\n<p>Sep. 17, 1999\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Boonsai Sansurat TKO3 Manny Pacquiao \u2013 Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand<\/p>\n<p>Dec. 4, 1998\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Manny Pacquiao KO8 Chatchai Sasakul \u2013 Phuttamonthon, Thailand<\/p>\n<p>May 9, 1997\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chatchai Sasakul W12 Ysaias Zamudio \u2013 Bangkok, Thailand<\/p>\n<p>June 23, 1992\u00a0\u00a0Yuri Arbachakov KO8 Muangchai Kittikasem \u2013 Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n<p>Feb. 15, 1991\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Muangchai Kittikasem TKO6 Sot Chitalada \u2013 Ayutthaya, Thailand<\/p>\n<p>Oct. 8, 1984\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Sot Chitalada W12 Gabriel Bernal \u2013 Bangkok, Thailand<\/p>\n<p>Mar. 15, 1983\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Charlie Magri TKO7 Eleoncio Mercedes \u2013 London, England<\/p>\n<p>May 18, 1980\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Shoji Oguma KO9 Chan-Hee Park \u2013 Seoul, Korea<\/p>\n<p>Jan. 8, 1975\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Miguel Canto W15 Shoji Oguma \u2013 Sendai, Japan<\/p>\n<p>Aug. 4, 1973\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Betulio Gonzalez W15 Miguel Canto \u2013 Maracaibo, Venezuela<\/p>\n<p>Feb. 23, 1969\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Efren Torres TKO8 Chartchai Chionoi \u2013 Mexico City, Distrito Federal<\/p>\n<p>Dec. 30, 1966\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Chartchai Chionoi TKO9 Walter McGowan \u2013 Bangkok, Thailand<\/p>\n<p>Sep. 18, 1963\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Pone Kingpetch KO1 Hiroyuki Ebihara \u2013 Tokyo, Japan<\/p>\n<p><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-full wp-image-107650 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Martinez_Cordova.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"773\" height=\"433\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Martinez_Cordova.png 773w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Martinez_Cordova-300x168.png 300w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Martinez_Cordova-768x430.png 768w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Martinez_Cordova-260x146.png 260w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Martinez_Cordova-50x28.png 50w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Martinez_Cordova-134x75.png 134w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 773px) 100vw, 773px\" \/><\/strong><\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Going out with a BANG<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>By <em>James Blears<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Many boxers will tell you, that\u2019s it\u2019s the punch you don\u2019t see coming\u2026 that decks you!<\/p>\n<p>And so, it befell Showtime, which brought boxing to our screens for almost thirty-eight glorious years.<\/p>\n<p>Paramount, which merged with it, has decided, via a clinically prudent financial business decision to call a halt. The accountants dealt and then delivered the KO\/Coup de Grace. In a bland matter of fact statement, Paramount announced: \u201cAs we evolve our strategy to move efficiently and allocate resources to align our content offering across the business, we\u2019ve made the difficult decision not to move forward with boxing and other content produced by Showtime Sports Team.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe express our deepest gratitude to our employees, who have contributed to this award-winning sports programming over multiple decades.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The descending axe\/ Sword of Damocles finalizes Showtime by year end. James J Braddock was once dubbed \u201cThe Cinderella Man.\u201d Today, Boxing is left bereft with an undeserved: \u201cUgly Sister\u201d epithet. The shoe fits! Stephen Espinoza who\u2019s led Showtime since November 14<sup>th<\/sup> 2011, has been awarded Man of the Year, at the World Boxing Council\u2019s recent annual Convention in Tashkent, Uzbekistan. A deserved recognition of his greatness.<\/p>\n<p>The best to last, as it\u2019s been left to \u201cEl Rey\u201d and \u201cHuracan\u201d to weather the end of the reign and switch out the lights with a grand finale. WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez (20-2-2, 15 KO\u2019s) will defend his crown against undefeated Angelino Cordova (18-0-1, 12 KO\u2019s) at The Armory, Minneapolis, Minnesota on December 16<sup>th<\/sup>. Mexico Vs Venezuela! A farewell fitting of Boxing TV\u2019s flagship, which is sadly well and truly sunk. A goodbye wave.<\/p>\n<p>Diminutive Julio Cesar, who stands all of five feet two inches tall is a giant of the ring in boxing\u2019s smaller divisions. He\u2019s blasted his way to the top, particularly with his vaunted left hook and ferocious body attack. His by now famous saying is: \u201cWith everything but fear!\u201d Affable and jolly outside business hours, he\u2019s a ruthless and relentless operator when the bell rings and it\u2019s all on the line.<\/p>\n<p>Angelino Cordova is made of stern stuff and just as well, because he\u2019s never ever faced a challenge quite like this. It\u2019s his first attempt at zenith glittering prize of the Green and Gold Belt. He \u201cTowers\u201d over JC, at a lofty five feet four inches. He has a reach of sixty five and a half inches, to JC\u2019s sixty four inches.<\/p>\n<p>Angelino has got here by defying the odds in his most recent two fights. He defeated Axel Aragon Vega by SD in a real give and take light flyweight fight. Then he progressed by defeating former light flyweight world champion Angel \u201cTito\u201d Acosta by UD in a flyweight bout.<\/p>\n<p>Tito started strongly, effectively using his jab and landing crunching body shots. In round three he was applying intense pressure and then a clash of heads left Angelino with a bad gash over the left eye, which later required eight stitches to close and heal. He didn\u2019t panic and kept fighting back. Some commentators observed, and it was they who interpreted that Tito seemed discouraged when Angelino took all of his best shots and refused to budge or wilt. That\u2019s their considered opinion. What is an undisputable fact, is that Angelino showed admirable courage, willpower, and vim under intense fire.<\/p>\n<p>What is certain is that Julio Cesar will never let this type of admirable resistance deflect his avowed intention or purpose. Come what may, he\u2019ll maintain the onslaught throughout. His boxing ethos, creed and mission is seeking and destroy.<\/p>\n<p>Enterprising Angelino is determined to capitalize on an opportunity which destiny is offering him. It was expected and hoped that there would be a highly anticipated rematch between Julio Cesar and McWilliams Arroyo. Firstly, JC suffered a hairline fracture to his right hand in final sparring session, prior to their first encounter. McWilliams nevertheless fought and won the WBC Interim title. Another cancellation as Julio Cesar fell ill with salmon food poisoning. When they did meet in the ring, both exchanged knockdowns in round one. Julio was the first to visit the canvass. He got up and dropped McWilliams. We seemed destined to witness a thrilling slugfest classic, but it was not to be.<\/p>\n<p>In round two a clash of heads left McWilliams with two bad cuts and the fight was halted, with a NC decision. McWilliams then injured his neck in training and later declined to fight Martinez, so he was stripped of his title. The rematch is never going to happen. Four cancellations\u2026Jinxed?<\/p>\n<p>In his most recent fight, Julio stopped elusive Ronal Batista on round eleven. He likes and hankers after a pitched battle and isn\u2019t suited to a catch me if you can running race. His best work is done at toe to toe close quarters. Tic tat toe.<\/p>\n<p>Angelino will have to withstand a constant barrage. He will need to demonstrate wily guile and resolve in a give and take contest.<\/p>\n<p>Julio Cesar has come through his own test of fire. On less than six weeks notice, he fought the supreme Roman \u201cChocolatito\u201d Gonzalez, after Juan Francisco Estrada had to pull out due to a positive covid test. It was a seminal learning experience. The WBC super-flyweight Diamond Belt was at stake. A bold gamble by the audacious \u201cRey\u201d but at this stage of his career more polish was required and it was lacking. The old Maesto, wearing toffee colored gloves got stuck into him, providing a wincingly painful boxing tutorial.<\/p>\n<p>Julio was constantly under pressure and under the cosh. Chocolatito tried his level best to level him, but the younger man defiantly refused to go down. He stubbornly stood his ground and returned fire, often as not paying for it dearly. Yet, he clearly showed his mental and physical toughness, although on this occasion he was comprehensively outclassed.<\/p>\n<p>Wiser but characteristically unchastised, he\u2019s back at his natural weight and this is his seventh defense of the title he won in December 2019, overwhelming and beating Cristofer \u201cThe Whip\u201d Rosales.<\/p>\n<p>Anything can happen, but one thing is for certain. This won\u2019t be dull! A final hurrah and salute to Showtime!<\/p>\n<h2 style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"size-large wp-image-105658 aligncenter\" src=\"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-1024x849.png\" alt=\"\" width=\"1024\" height=\"849\" srcset=\"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-1024x849.png 1024w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-300x249.png 300w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-768x637.png 768w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-1536x1274.png 1536w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-176x146.png 176w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-50x41.png 50w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-90x75.png 90w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-868x720.png 868w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC-814x675.png 814w, https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Rey_Martinez_WBC.png 1782w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/strong><\/h2>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>WBC Special Preview: Martinez vs. Cordova WBC Flyweight World Championship December 16, 2023 \/ Minneapolis, Minnesota \/ The Armory TGB PROMOTIONS PRESENTS: JULIO CESAR \u201cEl Rey\u201d<span class=\"excerpt-hellip\"> [\u2026]<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":107652,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[121,122,120],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-107649","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-main-news","category-featured","category-news"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107649","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=107649"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/107649\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/107652"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=107649"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=107649"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wbcboxing.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=107649"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}