Dsalita Julio Cesar Martinez has decided to give up his WBC flyweight title in order to seek new challenges in a higher weight class. The announcement was made on the WBC’s website, with the fighter expressing his intentions.
With Jesse “Bam” Rodriguez also vacating the IBF and WBO titles to move up in weight, the current sole champion at 112 lbs is WBA titleholder Seigo Yuri Akui, making him the undisputed champion for now.
Martinez, 29 years old with a record of 21-3 and 15 knockouts, recently defended his title with a majority decision victory over Angelino Cordova in Las Vegas. This marked his debut fight with Premier Boxing Champions after his time with Matchroom Boxing.
Having previously fought in the super flyweight division, Martinez faced a tough defeat against Chocolatito Gonzalez in 2022 and struggled with weight issues in that fight. Various factors, including weight and injuries, have led to the cancellation of several of Martinez’s fights in recent years.
Martinez gained recognition in 2019 when he appeared to win the WBC belt against Charlie Edwards in London, only for the decision to be overturned due to a shot landed on the downed Edwards. He later claimed the vacant WBC title against Cristofer Rosales and successfully defended it seven times.
Although the WBC has not yet announced a matchup for the vacant title, the top contenders in their rankings are Angel Ayala and Francisco Rodriguez Jr. The IBF has ordered Ayala to face Dave Apolinario for their vacant title, providing an interesting choice for the upcoming fight.
