It took longer than expected, but Julio Cesar Martinez finally returns to the ring on Saturday when he puts the WBC flyweight title on the line against Joel Cordova from the Domo Alcade, Gigantes de Jalisco Arena in Guadalajara, Mexico.
After running through Moises Calleros Garcia in two rounds in October, Martinez was set to face Francisco Rodríguez Jr. in December as part of the Canelo Alvarez-Callum Smith undercard, but Rodriguez had to bow out due to illness. Then, Martinez was scheduled to battle McWilliams Arroyo in February as the co-main event of Alvarez vs. Avni Yildirim. But the day before the fight, Martinez was forced to withdraw due to suffering a small fracture in his right hand.
"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 (5-0, one no contest). In his last time out, the 26-year-old stopped Ottoniel Ortiz Zarate in January to earn the opportunity of a lifetime.
Here's all the info on how to watch the Martinez vs. Cordova card.
When is Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Joel Cordova? Date, start time
- Date: Saturday, June 26
- Main card: 7 p.m. ET/Midnight BST
- Main event: 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 7 p.m. ET. Martinez and Cordova are expected to make their ring walks at approximately 10:30 p.m. ET, although that depends on the length of the earlier bouts.
What channel/stream is Martinez vs. Cordova?
DAZN is the global live streamer of Martinez vs. Cordova, including in the U.S., UK, and Mexico.
Where is the Martinez vs. Cordova fight?
The Martinez vs. Cordova card will take place at the the Domo Alcade, Gigantes de Jalisco Arena 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 Palomare; Super Middleweights
- Christian Alan Gomez Duran vs. Jorge Perez Sanchez; Welterweights