By: Sean Crose
“We weren’t expecting this fight, but we were preparing for any type of fighter, a technical boxer, a come-forward fighter,” says WBC featherweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez. “Now we’ve got an ex-Olympian, we’re prepared and as always, we’re willing to give everything in the ring.” Martinez will likely be making the fifth protection of his title Saturday when he takes on Samuel Carmona in a scheduled 12 rounder in Glendale, Arizona. The combat will likely be aired stay by DAZN as a part of the Juan Miguel Estrada-Chocolatito Gonzalez card.
The 18-2 Martinez was presupposed to be rematching McWilliams Arroyo on Saturday, however an Arroyo harm led to Martinez dealing with Carmona as a substitute. “I’ve not seen a great deal of him,” Martinez says, referring to the 8-0 Carmona, a former Olympian from Spain, “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.” It might certainly be the unknown side of Carmona that provides a stage of intruige to the matchup.
“I never underestimate my opponents,” Martinez says, “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.” It’s a wise technique, frankly, one that may assist stop upsets from taking place.
And Martinez is most definitely not trying to be upset by Carmona this weekend. The man, in spite of everything, has plans. “As I always say, I’ll fight anyone anywhere,” Martinez says. “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.” Indeed, the person seems to be impressed by a sure star out of Mexico.
“Like my colleague Canelo, I’m going for all the belts,” says Marticnez, “(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.”
