WBC Special Preview: JC Martinez vs. Cordova
WBC Flyweight World Championship
Maro 30, 2024 / T-Mobile Arena / Las Vegas
TGB PROMOTIONS PRESENTS:
JULIO CESAR “El Rey” MARTINEZ (Mexico)
WBC Flyweight World Champion / 7th Title Defense
Age: 29 / Date of birth: January 17, 1995
Residence, birthplace: Mexico City, Mexico
Record: 20-2, 2 NC, 15 KOs / Total rounds: 123 / World championship fights: 6-0, 2 NC, 4 KOs
Height: 5’2” – 157cm / Reach: 64” – 163cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager, trainer: Eddy Reynoso
ANGELINO “Huracan” CORDOVA (Venezuela)
Age: 28 / Date of birth: October 6, 1995
Residence: Roselle Park, New Jersey / Birthplace: Ciudad Bolivar, Venezuela
Record: 18-0-1, 12 KOs / Total rounds: 85
Height: 5’4” – 162cm / Reach: 65.5” – 166cm / Stance: Right-handed
Manager: Oscar Navarro / Trainer: Jose Nieves
WBC FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Pone Kingpetch (Thai) 1963
2. Hiroyuki Ebihara (Jap) 1963 – 1964
3. Pone Kingpetch (Thai) * 1964 – 1965
4. Salvatore Burruni (Italy) 1965 – 1966
5. Walter McGowan (GB) 1966
6. Chartchai Chionoi (Thai) 1966 – 1969
7. Efren Torres (Mex) 1969 – 1970
8. Chartchai Chionoi (Thai) * 1970
9. Erbito Salavarria (Phil) 1970 – 1971
10. Betulio Gonzalez (Ven) 1972
11. Venice Borkorsor (Thai) 1972 – 1973
12. Betulio Gonzalez (Ven) * 1973 – 1974
13. Shoji Oguma (Jap) 1974 – 1975
14. Miguel Canto (Mex) 1975 – 1979
15. Chan-Hee Park (Kor) 1979 – 1980
16. Shoji Oguma (Japan) * 1980 – 1981
17. Antonio Avelar (Mex) 1981 – 1982
18. Prudencio Cardona (Col) 1982
19. Freddie Castillo (Mex) 1982
20. Eleoncio Mercedes (DR) 1982 – 1983
21. Charlie Magri (GB) 1983
22. Frank Cedeño (Phil) 1983 – 1984
23. Koji Kobayashi (Jap) 1984
24. Gabriel Bernal (Mex) 1984
25. Sot Chitalada (Thai) 1984 – 1988
26. Yong-Kang Kim (Kor) 1988 – 1989
27. Sot Chitalada (Thai) * 1989 – 1991
28. Muangchai Kittikasem (Thai) 1991 – 1992
29. Yuri Arbachakov (Russia) 1992 – 1996
30. Chatchai Sasakul (Thai) 1997 – 1998
31. Manny Pacquiao (Phil) 1998 – 1999
32. Medgoen Singsurat (Thai) 1999 – 2000
33. Malcolm Tunacao (Phil) 2000 – 2001
34. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thai) 2001 – 2007
35. Jorge Arce (Mexico) (Interim) 2005 – 2006
36. Daisuke Naito (Japan) 2007 – 2009
37. P. Wonjongkam (Thai) (Interim) * 2009
38. Koki Kameda (Japan) 2009 – 2010
39. Pong. Wonjongkam (Thai) * 2010 – 2012
40. Sonny Boy Jaro (Phil) 2012
41. Toshiyuki Igarashi (Japan) 2012 – 2013
42. Akira Yaegashi (Japan) 2013 – 2014
43. Roman Gonzalez (Nic) 2014 – 2016
44. Juan Hernandez (Mexico) 2017
45. Daigo Higa (Japan) 2017 – 2018
46. Cristofer Rosales (Nic) 2018
47. Charlie Edwards (GB) 2018 – 2019
48. Julio Cesar Martinez (Mexico) 2019 –
*Regained
WBC TOP 10 FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS
1. Miguel Canto (Mexico)
2. Pongsaklek Wonjongkam (Thailand)
3. Chartchai Chionoi (Thailand)
4. Efren Torres (Mexico)
5. Yuri Arbachakov (Russia)
6. Roman Gonzalez (Nicaragua)
7. Sot Chitalada (Thailand)
8. Akira Yaegashi (Japan)
9. Betulio Gonzalez (Venezuela)
10. Shoji Oguma (Japan)
GENERAL INFORMATION ON THE FLYWEIGHT DIVISION IN WBC HISTORY
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).
156 flyweight world championship bouts have been held in WBC history
MEMORABLE WBC FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHTS:
May 6, 2023 Julio Cesar Martinez TKO11 Ronal Batista – Zapopan, Jalisco
Dec. 3, 2022 Julio Cesar Martinez W12 Samuel Carmona – Glendale, Arizona
June 26, 2021 Julio Cesar Martinez TKO6 Joel Cordova – Guadalajara, Jalisco
Oct. 23, 2020 Julio Cesar Martinez TKO2 Moises Calleros – Mexico City, Distrito Federal
Dec. 20, 2019 Julio Cesar Martinez TKO9 Cristofer Rosales – Phoenix, Arizona
Dec. 22, 2018 Charlie Edwards W12 Cristofer Rosales – London, England
Apr. 15, 2018 Cristofer Rosales TKO9 Daigo Higa – Kanagawa, Japan
May 20, 2017 Daigo Higa TKO6 Juan Hernandez – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 23, 2016 Roman Gonzalez W12 McWilliams Arroyo – Inglewood, California
Sep. 5, 2014 Roman Gonzalez TKO9 Akira Yaegashi – Tokyo, Japan
Apr. 8, 2013 Akira Yaegashi W12 Toshiyuki Igarashi – Tokyo, Japan
Mar. 27, 2010 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam W12 Koki Kameda – Tokyo, Japan
Nov. 29, 2009 Koki Kameda W12 Daisuke Naito – Saitama, Japan
July 18, 2007 Daisuke Naito W12 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam – Tokyo, Japan
July 30, 2005 Jorge Arce TKO3 Angel Priolo – La Paz, Baja California
Mar. 2, 2001 Pongsaklek Wonjongkam TKO1 Malcolm Tunacao – Phichit, Thailand
Sep. 17, 1999 Boonsai Sansurat TKO3 Manny Pacquiao – Nakhon Si Thammarat, Thailand
Dec. 4, 1998 Manny Pacquiao KO8 Chatchai Sasakul – Phuttamonthon, Thailand
May 9, 1997 Chatchai Sasakul W12 Ysaias Zamudio – Bangkok, Thailand
June 23, 1992 Yuri Arbachakov KO8 Muangchai Kittikasem – Tokyo, Japan
Feb. 15, 1991 Muangchai Kittikasem TKO6 Sot Chitalada – Ayutthaya, Thailand
Oct. 8, 1984 Sot Chitalada W12 Gabriel Bernal – Bangkok, Thailand
Mar. 15, 1983 Charlie Magri TKO7 Eleoncio Mercedes – London, England
May 18, 1980 Shoji Oguma KO9 Chan-Hee Park – Seoul, Korea
Jan. 8, 1975 Miguel Canto W15 Shoji Oguma – Sendai, Japan
Aug. 4, 1973 Betulio Gonzalez W15 Miguel Canto – Maracaibo, Venezuela
Feb. 23, 1969 Efren Torres TKO8 Chartchai Chionoi – Mexico City, Distrito Federal
Dec. 30, 1966 Chartchai Chionoi TKO9 Walter McGowan – Bangkok, Thailand
Sep. 18, 1963 Pone Kingpetch KO1 Hiroyuki Ebihara – Tokyo, Japan
King/ Hurricane
By James Blears
Hard hitting WBC flyweight monarch Julio Cesar “El Rey” Martinez defends his crown against undefeated Angelino Cordova of Venezuela at the T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas on March 30th.
It was to have been part of Showtime’s final hurrah on December 16th, but Julio Cesar encountered visa problems. These have now been resolved and so here we are.
A worthy test for Julio Cesar Martinez (20-2-2, 15 KO’s) and an ambitious step up for Angelino Cordova ( 18-0-1, 12 KO’s) who has already proved his resilience and mettle. Now he has to use his boxing skills to avoid the inevitable onslaught intended to make him buckle.
Diminutive Julio Cesar, who stands all of five feet two inches tall is a giant of the ring in boxing’s smaller divisions. He’s blasted his way to the top, particularly with his vaunted left hook and ferocious body attack. His by now famous saying is: “With everything but fear!” Affable and jolly outside business hours, he’s a ruthless and relentless operator when the bell rings and it’s all on the line.
Angelino Cordova is made of stern stuff and just as well, because he’s never ever faced a challenge quite like this. It’s his first attempt at zenith glittering prize of the Green and Gold Belt. He “Towers” over JC, at a lofty five feet four inches. He has a reach of sixty-five and a half inches, to JC’s sixty four inches.
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 “Tito” Acosta by UD in a flyweight bout.
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’t 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’s their considered opinion. What is an undisputable fact, is that Angelino showed admirable courage, willpower and vim under intense fire.
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’ll maintain the onslaught throughout. His boxing ethos, creed and mission is seek and destroy.
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.
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…Jinxed?
In his most recent fight, Julio stopped elusive Ronal Batista on round eleven. He likes and hankers after a pitched battle and isn’t suited to a catch me if you can running race. His best work is done at toe to toe close quarters. Tic tat toe.
Angelino will have to withstand a constant barrage. He will need to demonstrate wily guile and resolve in a give and take contest.
Julio Cesar has come through his own test of fire. On less than six weeks of notice, he fought the supreme Roman “Chocolatito” 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 “Rey” 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.
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.
Wiser but characteristically unchastened, he’s back at his natural weight and this is his sixth defense of the title he won in December 2019, overwhelming and beating Cristofer “The Whip” Rosales.
Anything can happen, but one thing is for certain. This won’t be dull!
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