Perhaps the best flyweight in the world makes his return to the ring as WBC champion Julio Cesar Martinez looks to defend his belt for the third time on Saturday against Joel Cordova from the Domo Alcade - Code Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Martinez last competed in October, dispatching Moisés Calleros inside two rounds. He'd been earmarked to face Francisco Rodríguez Jr. in December on the Canelo Alvarez-Callum Smith undercard, but Rodriguez had to bow out due to illness. Then Martinez was set to take on McWilliams Arroyo in February in the co-main event of Alvarez-Avni Yildirim, but Martinez withdrew the day before the fight because of a small fracture of his right hand.
He's is eager to come back and remind everyone who is the best flyweight in the world.
"I am so happy to be able to fight again and make a much-anticipated comeback," Martinez said in a press release. "I am even more excited to be able to fight in my home country of Mexico and defend my title here. I am very motivated to reignite my career on such a platform."
Cordova enters the contest unbeaten in his last six fights. In his last time out, the 26-year-old stopped Ottoniel Ortiz Zarate in January to earn the opportunity of a lifetime.
"I've waited for this opportunity for so long that I won't waste my chance to fulfill my dreams of becoming world champion," Cordova said. "I want to thank Matchroom and my company BXSTRS for making my dream come true. Maybe I'm not known by many, but after June 26, many will know my name. I know Martinez is a solid champion, but strength is not the only thing needed to win. It requires motivation, desire and there's no one who can beat me in those. I have waited my whole life for this moment."
Boxing pundits view Martinez-Cordova as an easy title defense for the former. But that is why they step through the ropes and fight.
Here is everything you know about Julio Cesar Martinez and Joel Cordova.
Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Joel Cordova fight date, start time
- Date: Saturday, June 26
- Coverage: 6 p.m. CT; 7 p.m. ET; midnight BST
- Martinez vs. Cordova main event (approx): 9:30 p.m. CT; 10:30 p.m. ET; 3:30 a.m. BST
The Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Joel Cordova fight card takes place on Saturday, June 26 at 6 p.m. CT. Martinez and Cordova are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 9:30 p.m. CT, although that depends on the length of the earlier bouts.
Martinez vs. Cordova TV channel, live stream
- TV / Stream: DAZN
Martinez and Cordova will have their flyweight clash on DAZN worldwide in over 200 countries and territories.
Where is the Martinez vs. Cordova fight?
The event will take place at the the Domo Alcade - Code Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Julio Cesar Martinez record and bio
- Nationality: Mexican
- Age: 25
- Height: 5-2
- Reach: 63 inches
- Total fights: 19
- Record: 17-1, one no-contest with 13 knockouts
Joel Cordova record and bio
- Nationality: Mexican
- Age: 26
- Height: 5-2
- Reach: 66 inches
- Total fights: 18
- Record: 12-4-2 with 3 knockouts
Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Joel Cordova fight card
- Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Joel Cordova for Martinez’s WBC Flyweight title
- Daniel Matellon vs. Jose Argumedo for Matellon’s WBA Interim Junior Flyweight title
- Gabriel Valenzuela vs. Juan Ocura; Junior Welterweights
- Diego Pacheco vs. Jesus Moroyoqui Palomar; Super Middleweight
- Christian Alan Gomez Duran vs. Jorge Perez Sanchez; Welterweight