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Flyweight contender Julio Cesar Martinez has signed a deal with Matchroom Boxing USA, setting up his next fight, for the vacant WBC title against Cristofer Rosales, to take place on Matchroom’s Dec. 13 card, which will be headlined by Daniel Jacobs moving up to super middleweight.
Mexico’s Martinez (14-1, 11 KO) came out of nowhere in March, stopping Andrew Selby in a pretty big upset in Mexico, which earned the 24-year-old a shot at the WBC flyweight title held by Charlie Edwards in August on the Lomachenko-Campbell card in London.
In that fight, Martinez was totally overwhelming Edwards, and knocked him down in the third round. With Edwards down, Martinez landed a late shot to the body, causing Edwards to roll around. That fight was officially announced a KO-3 win for Martinez, but WBC boss Mauricio Sulaiman, in a truly bizarre move, got into the ring and ordered the result be changed to a no-contest due to the foul.
Long story short, a rematch was going to be ordered, but Edwards decided he didn’t want any more of Martinez and vacated the belt. The WBC has ordered Martinez to face former titleholder Rosales (29-4, 20 KO), the man Edwards defeated for the title in Dec. 2018.
Matchroom will work with Canelo Promotions in promoting Martinez.
“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 of 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 Matchroom’s Eddie 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.”