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Martinez: "Like Canelo, I’m Going For All The Belts"
Julio Cesar Martinez wants to unleash his frustrations out
on Samuel Carmona when he defends his WBC World Flyweight
title for the fifth time at the Desert Diamond Arena in
Glendale, Arizona, live worldwide on DAZN.
Martinez (18-2 14 KOs) was was set to face long-running
rival McWilliams Arroyo in a rematch, but neck and back
issues ruled the Puerto Rican out, opening the door for
Carmona to land his first World title shot. The unbeaten
Spaniard, who represented his country in the 2016 Olympic
Games, has cruised to 8-0 in the paid ranks since turning
pro in September 2019 and landed the WBA International title
at 112lbs in just his fourth pro fight.
Martinez, who is back in action for the first time since
challenging one half of the headline fight, Roman
‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez for the WBC Diamond Super-Flyweight
title in March, has also been itching to get unification
fights in the books against IBF champion Sunny Edwards and
WBA king Artem Dalakian but as yet to no avail.
‘El Rey’ remains focused on the job at hand though, to keep
hold of his famous green and gold belt, and in turn, putting
pressure on his fellow champions to meet him in the ring.
“We weren’t expecting this fight, but we were preparing for
any type of fighter, a technical boxer, a come-forward
fighter,” said Martinez. “Now we've got an ex-Olympian,
we're prepared and as always, we're willing to give
everything in the ring.
“I've not seen a great deal of him, but he has also fought
Joel Cordova like I have, and I've seen that he can take
shots and can also come forward. At times he really likes to
trade but it's going to be a good fight and let's see what
he brings and how he counter punches.
“I never underestimate my opponents because we know that
it's all about hunger and desire and everyone comes to win,
nobody comes to lose. We know that everyone comes to get
their victory and like always, I'll leave everything in the
ring, and we'll never discredit any opponent.
“As I always say, I'll fight anyone anywhere. We're ready
for whatever comes and if he likes, we can fight whenever
Arroyo wants to. We're ready to win. But what most interests
me is to unify titles and go after the other belts.”
“I want to unify, to go after the other champions. There are
various champions and a vacant WBO title, so there are
various belts that I would like and I'm ready to fight for
them.
“I've never ducked anyone. We've been ready for a while to
unify and go for all those belts. I would like the Edwards
fight. It's what we're looking for, those big fights and
more than anything to unify and go after all those belts.
I'll fight anybody anywhere.
“I also want to go up to Super-Flyweight but I want to do
all I can at Flyweight. There are various options and
fortunately we're in good shape. So, we want to do all we
can at flyweight and then go up to Super-Flyweight. As I
always say, wherever and with whoever, we come to fight.
“I felt good at 115 pounds. I've even fought up at
Super-Bantamweight because fortunately I adapt well and more
than anything I feel strong, tough and consistent at that
weight. I think I could even fight up at Bantamweight with
God's blessing and if I look after myself.”
Martinez’s desire to achieve greatness is not surprising
given the company he keeps daily. The 27 year old trains
alongside Mexican superstar Canelo Alvarez in San Diego, and
having teamed up fulltime with Eddy Reynoso, who also
manages Martinez, the all-action champion believes the
improvements he’s made in California will be on full
display.
“Like my colleague Canelo, I'm going for all the belts,”
said Martinez. I want to be a unified champion and more than
anything to leave a legacy.
“I worked with Eddy Reynoso for four months for this camp.
He is my trainer now and we're putting a lot of effort and
dedication into camp so that things go well, and we can go
after all those belts.
“Being constantly with Eddy is the difference now. We work
on technique and on many things which are helping us. We're
improving in terms of defence, technique in many things.
It motivates me a great deal to train alongside Saúl and
more than anything I don't want to let my team down and I'll
keep giving my all.
“It's very different working with Eddy. It's that attention
he gives you. He looks out for everything. We're not missing
anything out, examining every detail and thankfully I've
been well looked after by Eddy.
“With God's blessing we're going in with everything except
fear, against whoever wherever because we are men, not
clowns. Thank you for supporting me. We won't let you down.”
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