Stung and Stunned

By James Blears

The first fight between World Boxing Council flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez and McWilliams Arroyo, was short, sweet, explosive but inconclusive, as a clash of heads ended it prematurely after round two, just as it was getting interesting, so this one on Saturday June 25^th at the Tech Point Arena, San Antonio, will settle matters once and for all.

A handful of problems prior to fight one, especially after Julio Cesar suffered a small, but significant fracture to his right hand in sparring and the swelling then worsened. Julio who`s favorite saying is: “With everything except fear,” pleaded to receive a numbing injection, so he could fight with everything through pain, but with so much at stake, it had to be postponed.

When it did happen, there were fireworks from the outset. McWilliams, who has respectable power, having stopped sixteen opponents, decided to fight fire with fire and enthusiastically strode into the blast furnace, in all- out attack mode. Straight left jabs and big following rights. Then one of those rights put down Julio. Surprised and abashed, Julio indignantly got straight back up, but from the look on his face, he`d been shocked as well as hornet stung.

Mightily annoyed at himself at being caught cold, he launched a characteristic onslaught. A thunderous left hook cracked the Puerto Rican on the side of his face and he went down ever harder. He got up looked all at sea with no sea legs and all of sudden…the bell rang. Phew!  One of his corner men rushed to him and literally dragged him to the stool. Even aged thirty six, McWilliams who won the WBC Interim title in Julio`s absence prior to all of this, is always in great physical shape. Initially stunned and befuddled, he was given a dressing down, a sprucing up and was ready to resume when the bell rang, after sixty seconds of invaluable respite.

The late great boxing scribe and natural broadcaster Reg Gutteridge wrote in praise of Rocky Marciano`s power saying: “He heaved punches like cobblestones, but he made them count.” At five feet four, McWilliams towers two inches over pocket-sized powerhouse Julio Cesar, but almost every punch the tiny Mexican throws is unleashed with the express intention of knocking out his opponent. Pure undistilled venom.

An accidental clash of heads left McWilliams with a gash on his right eyelid and another just above it on his eyebrow. He fought on, with seeping blood flecking his now ashen pale face, but the eye was rapidly swelling shut. When the bell rang and as he went back to his corner, he shook his head. The Ring Doctor advised the Referee that McWilliams couldn`t continue with his vision severely impaired and the fight was declared a no contest. A thrilling encounter and hopefully their second will live up to it and be cranium clash free.

Juan Francisco Estrada had to pull out of the super flyweight thriller with Roman Chocolatito Gonzalez due to contracting covid 19, and on less than six weeks of notice, Julio Cesar, enterprisingly seized the opportunity with both hands, as the WBC Diamond Belt at stake. With fifty two fight notches on his belt compared to Julio Cesar`s nineteen, the Maestro gave the younger man a comprehensive boxing lesson. A steady stream of jolting jabs, heavy accurate right hands plus uppercuts which often found their mark, garnished with a bevy of crunching body shots, all delivered at short range. On that night Chocolatito was a supreme unstoppable force and he was not to be denied, winning a convincing UD.

Julio Cesar fought back magnificently landing his vaunted left hook and combinations, but sustaining and weathering a non-stop attack, he couldn`t sit down on his punches. Not only was he outfought, he was   uncharacteristically driven on to the back foot time and again, where he`s not at his best, comfortable or at home. He was constantly punished without respite, but his willpower and resistance were stubbornly terrific. He simply wouldn`t give in!

The question being…has this stood him in good stead and seasoned him, or has it taken something out of him?  This was a setback, but he`s still only twenty seven and is again fighting at his natural weight.

McWilliams´twin brother McJoe has won the super flyweight IBF belt. McWilliams 21-4, 16 KO`s is himself a boxer of quality. He defeated Carlos Cuadras by a majority decision. He lost a UD to WBA champion Kazuto Ioka. Aged thirty six, this is most probably his last chance and it`s for the glittering prize of the Green and Gold Belt.

Julio Cesar, 18-2, 14 KO`s must temper his natural aggression just a tad and channel it. The title was his for the taking and almost within his grasp when he felled Champion Charlie Edwards with a cluster bomb combination in the third, but he then followed through hitting the felled and stricken Brit with a heavy body shot, so it was declared a no contest. He needs to display and employ the grim determination he wrought, stopping former champion Cristofer Rosales in the ninth to win the vacant championship, after Charlie decided to move up a division.

McWilliams has proved to himself that Julio can be put down and is not invincible.  McWilliams is the more accomplished craftsman and the better boxer. Yet, he`s now felt that extraordinary shuddering power the Mexican carries in both stunning fists. Julio must return to winning ways, proving he`s “El Rey” and this is his opportunity, if he can focus and curb his enthusiasm. For McWilliams with nerve…it`s now or never!

WORLD BOXING COUNCIL STATS

Jose Sulaimán WBC HONORARY POSTHUMOUS LIFETIME PRESIDENT (+)

Mauricio SulaimánWBC PRESIDENT

WBC FLYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

TECH PORT ARENA

SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, UNITED STATES

JUNE 25, 2022

 TV: DAZN      

THIS WILL BE THE WBC’S 2, 145 CHAMPIONSHIP TITLE   FIGHT   IN   THE   FIFTY-NINE YEAR HISTORY OF THE WBC

 

 

EDDIE HEARN & MATCHROOM BOXING, PRESENTS:

JULIO CESAR MARTINEZ                                           McWILLIAMS ARROYO

(MEXICO)                                                                      (PUERTO RICO)

WBC CHAMPION                                                            WBC INTERIM CHAMPION

 

Nationality:             Mexico                                                                            Nationality:                  Puerto Rico

Date of Birth:         January 27, 1995                                                         Date of Birth:              December 5, 1985

Birthplace:              Mexico City                                                                   Birthplace:                   Ceiba, P. Rico

Residence:               Mexico City                                                                   Residence:                    Fajardo, P. Rico

Alias:                         El Rey                                                                             Alias:                             The Twin

Record:                     18-2-0-1nc, 14 ko’s                                                      Record:                         21-4-0-1nc, 16 ko’s

KO’S %:                  70%                                                                                 KO’S %:                       61.6%

Age:                           27                                                                                      Age:                                36

Guard:                      Orthodox                                                                       Guard:                          Orthodox

Total rounds:          101                                                                                   Total rounds:              143

World title fights: 6 (5-0-0-1nc)                                                                  World title fights:      4 (1-2-0-1nc)

Manager:                 Eddy Reynoso                                                               Manager:                      Orlando Piñero

Promoter:                Matchroom Bozing                                                     Promoter:                     Puerto Rico Best Boxing

 

WBC´S FLYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPIONS

NAME                                                                      PERIOD AS CHAMPION

 

1. PONE KINGPETCH (THA) 1963
2. HIROYUKI EBIHARA (JAP) 1963 – 1964
3. PONE KINGPETCH (THA) * 1964 – 1965
4. SALVATORE BURRUNI (ITALY) 1965 – 1966
5. WALTER MCGOWAN (GB) 1966
6. CHARTCHAI CHIONOI (THA) (+) 1966 – 1969
7. EFREN TORRES (MEX) (+) 1969 – 1970
8. CHARTCHAI CHIONOI (THA) * (+) 1970
9. ERBITO SALAVARRIA (PHIL) 1970 – 1971
10. BETULIO GONZALEZ (VEN) 1972
11. VENICE BORKORSOR (THA) 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 (DOM R.) 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 (THA) 1984 – 1988
26. YONG-KANG KIM (KOR) 1988 – 1989
27. SOT CHITALADA (THAI) * 1989 – 1991
28. MUANGCHAI KITTIKASEM (THA) 1991 – 1992
29. YURI ARBACHAKOV (RUSSIA) 1992 – 1996
30. CHATCHAI SASAKUL (THA) 1997 – 1998
31. MANNY PACQUIAO (PHIL) 1998 – 1999
32. MEDGOEN SINGSURAT (THA) 1999 – 2000
33. MALCOLM TUNACAO (PHIL) 2000 – 2001
34. PONGSAKLEK WONJONGKAM (THA) 2001 – 2007
35. JORGE ARCE (MEXICO) INTERIM 2005 – 2006
36. DAISUKE NAITO (JAPAN) 2007 – 2009
37. PONGSAKLEK WONJONGKAM (THA) INTERIM 2009
38. KOKI KAMEDA (JAPAN) 2009 – 2010
39. PONGSAKLEK 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 (NICARAGUA) 2014 – 2016
44. JUAN HERNANDEZ (MEXICO) 2017
45. DAIGO HIGA (JAPAN) 2017 – 2018
46. CRISTOFER ROSALES (NICARAGUA) 2018
47. CHARLIE EDWARDS (GB) 2018 – 2019
48. JULIO CESAR MARTINEZ (MEXICO) 2019 –
49. MCWILLIAMS ARROYO (P. RICO) INTERIM 2021 –

*REGAINED

WBC FLYWEIGHT TOP TEN CHAMPIONS

MIGUEL CANTO (MEXICO)

PONGSAKLEK WONJONGKAM (THAILAND)

CHARTCHAI CHIONOI (THAILAND)

EFREN TORRES (MEXICO)

YURI ARBACHAKOV (RUSSIA)

ROMAN GONZALEZ (NICARAGUA)

SOT CHITALADA (THAILAND)

AKIRA YAEGASHI (JAPAN)

BETULIO GONZALEZ (VENEZUELA)

SHOJI OGUMA (JAPAN)

 

GENERAL INFORMATION

43 WORLD CHAMPIONS RECOGNIZED BY THE WBC OF WHICH ONLY 6 HAVE REGAINED THEIR TITLE:

PONE KINGPETCH (THAILAND)

CHARTCHAI CHIONOI (THAILAND)

BETULIO GONZALEZ (VENEZUELA)

SHOJI OGUMA (JAPAN)

SOT CHITALADA (THAI)

PONGSAKLEK WONJONGKAM (THAI)

 162 WORLD TITLE BOUTS IN 15 COUNTRIES HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

 

 

WORLD FLYWEIGHT TITLE BOUTS BY COUNTRY IN WBC HISTORY

JAPAN                            50

THAILAND                     48

MEXICO                         16

USA                                12

SOUTH KOREA              12

VENEZUELA                  6

ENGLAND                      8

PHILIPPINES                 2

ITALY                            2

NORTH IRELAND        1

KUWAIT                         1

JAMAICA                       1

FRANCE                         1

CHILE                            1

AUSTRALIA                   1

TOTAL                162

 

 IN THIS DIVISION PONGSAKLEK WONJONGKAM (THAI)  HOLDS THE TITLE DEFENSES RECORD WITH 25

 162 WORLD TITLE BOUTS IN 64 CITIES HAVE BEEN HELD IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

THIS WILL BE THE FIRST FIGHT IN NEW HAMPSHIRE STATE IN THE HISTORY OF THE WBC

 

BREAKDOWN BY CITIES:

BANGKOK                30

TOKYO                      29

LONDON                   8

SEOUL                        7

MERIDA                    6

CARACAS                 4

OSAKA                       4

SENDAI                      3

YOKOHAMA           3

GUADALAJARA    2

INGLEWOOD          2

KHONKAEN            2

LAS VEGAS              2

LOS ANGELES       2

MANILA                    2

MARACAIBO          2

MONTERREY         2

NAUCALPAN           2

PUSAN                        2

SAITAMA                  2

SAPPORO                  2

AOMORI                    1

AYUTHAYA             1

BELFAST                   1

CANCUN                    1

CHAINART PROVINCE 1

CHANTHABURI     1

CHIANG MAI          1

CHONBURI              1

CHONGJU                 1

FRISCO                      1

HOUSTON                 1

KANCHANABURI 1

KINGSTON               1

KOBE                          1

KORAT                       1

KORIYAMA             1

KUWAIT                    1

KYOTO                      1

LA PAZ                       1

LIGNANO                  1

MANCHESTER       1

MEXICO CITY        1

MIAMI                        1

MITA                           1

NAGOYA                   1

NEW YORK              1

NIMES                        1

OKINAWA                1

PATTAYA                 1

PHOENIX                  1

PICHIT                       1

POHANG                   1

RANGSIT                   1

RIOMA                       1

SAMUT SAKHON  1

SANTIAGO DE CHILE 1

SARABURI                1

SONGKHLA             1

SRISAKET                1

SYDNEY                     1

TAEGU                       1

TAMPICO                 1

TRANG                       1

UDONTHANI           1

TOTAL 162

 

WBC TITLE FIGHTS BETWEEN  MEXICO & PUERTO RICO

THERE HAS BEEN 41 WBC TITLE FIGHTS BETWEEN MEXICO vs. PUERTO RICO

MEXICO HAS WON 22 WBC TITLE FIGHTS

PUERTO RICO HAS WON 18 WBC TITLE FIGHTS

1 NO CONTEST

 

MEMORABLE FIGHTS

25/06/1977        ESTEBAN DE JESUS – VICENTE MIJARES S.             KO 11                SAN JUAN                     LI

08/04/1978        WILFREDO GOMEZ – JUAN ANTONIO LOPEZ        TKO 7               BAYAMON                   SB

28/10/1978        WILFREDO GOMEZ – CARLOS ZARATE                     TKO 5               SAN JUAN                     SB

13/01/1979        WILFREDO BENITEZ – CARLOS PALOMINO           DEC 15             SAN JUAN                     WE

13/12/1980        SALVADOR SANCHEZ – JUAN LAPORTE                    DEC 15             EL PASO                        FE

21/08/1981        SALVADOR SANCHEZ – WILFREDO GOMEZ           TKO 8               LAS VEGAS                 FE

03/12/1982        WILFREDO GOMEZ – LUPE PINTOR                             TKO 14             NEW ORLEANS         SB

01/05/1983        EDWIN ROSARIO – JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ                   DEC 12             SAN JUAN                     LI

07/08/1983        HECTOR CAMACHO – RAFAEL LIMON                      TKO 5               SAN JUAN                     SFE

03/11/1984        JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ – EDWIN ROSARIO                   TKO 4               SAN JUAN                     LI

10/08/1985        HECTOR CAMACHO – JOSE LUIS RAMIREZ            DEC 12             LAS VEGAS                 LI

12/12/1986        JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – JUAN LAPORTE                 DEC 12             NEW YORK                 SFE

12/09/1992        JULIO CESAR CHAVEZ – HECTOR CAMACHO       DEC 12             LAS VEGAS                 SL

28/08/1997        RICARDO LOPEZ – ALEX SANCHEZ                             TKO 5               NEW YORK                 ST

26/11/2011        SAUL ALVAREZ – KERMIT CINTRON                          TKO 5               MEXICO CITY           SW

21/04/2012        ABNES MARES – ERIC MOREL                                         UD 12                EL PASO                        SB

14/12/2013        LEO SANTA CRUZ – CESAR SEDA                                   UD 12                SAN ANTONIO           SB

08/02/2014        ADRIAN HERNANDEZ – JANIEL RIVERA                   TKO 3               HUIXQUILUCAN      LF

21/11/2015        SAUL ALVAREZ – MIGUEL COTTO                               UD 12                LAS VEGAS                 MI