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By J.J. Alvarez
Relatively unknown Spanish boxer Samuel Carmona (8-0, 4 KOs) will step in to face Mexican world champion Julio Cesar Martínez on December 3rd in Glendale, Arizona where superstars Juan Francisco Estrada and Román "Chocolatito" González will meet for the third time in another mega fight.
Martinez was originally scheduled to fight a rematch with Puerto Rican McWilliams Arroyo (21-4, 16 KOs), who a few days ago suffered a neck and back injury and had to pull out. Bryan Pérez, from Miguel Cotto Promotions, explained that a medical certification was submitted to verify that McWilliams was ordered to take a break and not train for several weeks, thus pushing back the fight to a later date.
Martínez and Arroyo first met back on November 19, 2021, with the duel ending in the third round when Arroyo suffered a deep cut after an accidental headbutt. Both fighters went to the canvas in the first round and Arroyo again kissed the canvas in the second.
This is the fourth suspension of the Martinez-McWilliams rematch. In August 2020, Martínez indicated that he had a respiratory infection and, therefore, it was necessary to postpone the fight. Then in February 2021, the Mexican boxer injured his hand days before the weigh-in. Martínez canceled his participation in the June 26th bout because he allegedly suffered from a food poisoning incident. It was Martinez's third cancellation for various reasons.
"El Rey" Martínez will be defending his WBC flyweight championship belt for the fifth time. He initially obtained the vacant title in December 2019 by anesthetizing Nicaraguan Cristofer Rosales in the ninth round in Phoenix, Arizona.
However, on March 5th, Martínez lost a unanimous decision to Chocolatito at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California, where they fought for the WBC super flyweight Diamond title. Martínez failed to make weight, so only González had an opportunity to win the belt, which he did.
Commenting on the fight against Carmona, Martinez told BoxingScene: “I’m excited to be getting back in the ring and defending my WBC belt again. “It’s unfortunate the Arroyo rematch is not happening, but it’s a huge chance for Samuel and he’s young and hungry, so you know he will bring everything on the night. But as we say, with everything except fear, I will rise to this challenge and show that next year we are coming for all the belts.”
SUNNY EDWARDS: “THE WBC TITLE SHOULD BE VACANT”
Just a few hours had elapsed since the fight between Martínez and Carmona was officially reported, when undefeated Brit Sunny “Showtime” Edwards (19-0, 4 KOs), the 112-pound IBF world champion, flew into a rage.
"Martinez is not a rival of mine, he's a muppet," said Edwards. "I saw him as easy work, but I was trying to sell it as being my hardest fight to date. The WBC title should be vacant, and it should have been on the line for me and [Felix] Alvarado on November 11. Martinez was paying step-aside money to an overdue mandatory challenger and then pulled out of the fight. Whoever is advising Martinez has told him to stay a million miles away from Sunny Edwards. He has avoided me like the plague. And, for me, Martinez is done in the division now."
Edwards defeated Nicaragua’s Alvarado by unanimous decision in England a few weeks ago, retaining the IBF title in his third defense.
According to sources close to the English boxer, Edwards lobbied for months to unify his IBF title with the WBC title held by Martínez, who, in the absence of an agreement directed his attention towards a rematch with Arroyo and then towards Carmona.
However, Martínez offered his own version of events. According to Martinez, Sunny Edwards backed out when negotiations were completed, lacking only the signatures of the two combatants. “At the mere hour he said that he didn't want to, that he was going to make another fight and that he needed more time to train. He talks a lot, but he doesn't back it up. Maybe we will have to make it mandatory,” said Martinez in an interview that ran on the YouTube platform of the La Casaca Boxing Club.
Article submitted by Jorge Juan Alvarez in Spanish.
Please note any adjustments made were for clarification purposes and any errors in translation were unintentional.
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