Julio Cesar Martinez defeats Joel Cordova in Mexico

By Boxing News - 06/26/2021 - Comments

By Allan Fox: WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez (18-1, 14 KOs) overcame a slow start to come back to stop #15 WBC fringe contender Joel Cordova (12-5-2 3 KOs) in the sixth round on Saturday night at the Arena Alcalde, in Guadalajara, Mexico.

‘El Rey’ Martinez, 26, dropped his old sparring partner Cordova with a powerful left hook followed by a right hand to the head in the sixth round.

After Cordova, 26, got back up, Martinez stormed after him, hitting him with a blizzard of punches until referee Frank Garza was forced to step in and stop the contest. the time of the stoppage was at 1:00 of round six.

Surprisingly, Cordova got the better of Martinez through the first four rounds, using his height and an in-and-out fighting style. Cordova was able to get out of the way of Martinez’s powerful left hook, dodging it most of the time.

Martinez turned the fight around in the fifth round when he caught Cordova with a powerful left hook to the jaw after trapping him against the ropes. The shot clearly buzzed Cordova. However, he made it through the round despite taking several more big shots.

“He was tougher than I expected, he’s a great fighter,” said Martinez after the fight. “I’m grateful to be with Eddy Reynoso. Yes, we are trying to unify the division.

“I believe he’s a superstar,” said promoter Eddie Hearn about Martinez. “Next, we’ll be out to unify, and then Estrada, Chocolatito, and Cuadras. This kid is going to be a superstar.”

Unbeaten WBA light flyweight champion Daniel Matellon (12-0-2, 6 KOs) beat Jose Argumedo (24-5-1, 15 KOs) by a close 12 round unanimous decision. The scores were 117-111, 115-113, 115-113.  Argumedo fought well in the first six rounds, but then gassed out and gave way to Matellon.  Argumedo suffered a cut over his left eye during the second part of the fight that limited his effectiveness.

Welterweight Christian Gomez (22-2-1, 19 KOs) defeated Jorge Sanchez (13-1 5 KOs) by a ninth round knockout. In the ninth round, Gomez landed a huge shot that ended the fight. Earlier in the fight, Romez knocked Sanchez down in the second round.

Super middleweight prospect Diego Pacheco (12-0, 9 KOs) defeated Jesus Moroyoqui (7-1-1, 4 KOs) in the sixth round. The fight was halted at 2:17 of the sixth with Pacheco giving Moroyoqui a pasting.

IBF Intercontinental light welterweight Gabriel Valenzuela (24-2-1, 14 KOs) stopped journeyman Juan Ocura (14-15-1, 6 KOs) in the seventh round. Valenzuela unloaded on the hapless Ocura throughout the contest with big power shots.

He dropped Ocura in the third round, and then finished him in the seventh when the referee halted the fight. The time of the stoppage was at 2:10 of the round.