The Ambitious Schedule Of Julio Cesar Martinez
2019 was a breakout year for Julio Cesar Martinez (16-1, 12 KO). The 25-year-old from Mexico City burst onto the scene, won a world title (WBC world Flyweight), and was on the fast track to becoming one of the “it” guys and a burgeoning star among the lower-weight divisions.
Martinez would successfully defend the WBC world 112-pound strap for the first time on February 29, 2020. However soon after, his career and emerging momentum were halted due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Now forced to sit on the sidelines, the question begs, what will Martinez and his team do to keep the mojo going for the exciting, power-punching Mexican mighty-mite?
AIMING TO FIGHT THE ELITE
According to Eddy Reynoso, co-trainer and manager of Martinez, the track for the fighter known as “El Rey” is quite ambitious. Speaking to former WBO world Welterweight champion Jessie Vargas (29-3-2, 11 KO) on the Matchroom Boxing podcast Peleamundo, the plan for Martinez is flyweight unification, then a move up to the junior bantamweight division.
Reynoso told Vargas that Kosei Tanaka and IBF world Flyweight champ Moruti Mthalane are at the top of the list for future opponents.
“We’re going to keep him at flyweight and try to defend and unify with Tanaka or Mthalane. And we’re getting harder fights little by little. We’ll move up to 115 pounds to fight Estrada, Cuadras, Chocolatito. There’s so many good fighters and I believe it’s step by step. We’ll keep him at flyweight, then move up to super flyweight.”
As a point of order, it must be noted that Kosei Tanaka is no longer a flyweight world champion. Reynoso stated as much during this interview.
Following his appearance on Peleamundo, 3KingsBoxing reached out to John Duggan, First Vice-President of the WBO. He explained that on February 4, 2020, Tanaka relinquished the WBO-112 pound strap and decided to move up to the junior bantamweight division. He is in negotiations for a fight against WBO World Junior Bantamweight champion Kazuto Ioka.
LOOKING AHEAD
Yet still, the fact remains that there are big plans in store for Martinez once ring-action resumes regularly.
To seek fights against the likes of the veteran Mthalane at 112 pounds, Tanaka, then go up in weight to fight the likes of WBC world Junior Bantamweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada and a future Hall of Famer in WBA world Junior Bantamweight champion Roman “Chocolatito” Gonzalez and WBC world Junior Bantamweight champion at 115-pounds is audacious, to say the least.
Given his fighting ability and charisma in and out of the ring, Julio Cesar Martinez has the potential to become a mainstream attraction for years to come. It’s going to be a fun ride watching how to see how far he can go.
By: Michael Wilson Jr.
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