Julio Cesar Martinez will defend his WBC flyweight title against McWilliams Arroyo (20-4, 15 KOs) as Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing USA return to action in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Saturday, August 15th, live on DAZN. Martinez (16-1, 12 KOs) thrilled Texas fans with his first defense of the belt in February, prevailing in a twelve-round war with Welshman Jay Harris. Prior to the lockdown, Cecilia Braekhus was set to defend her undisputed world welterweight championship in Maryland against Jessica McCaskill. That fight will be the co-feature in Tulsa.
Martinez, a 25 year-old Mexican, landed the vacant title with a ninth-round KO win over former champion Cristofer Rosales. He will be making the second defense of his crown against Arroyo as he looks to cement his place in the division and move towards unification battles. “I am so happy to be back in the ring again and I promise you another war on August 15th,” said Martinez. “With the unification fights ahead of me, it is important to take care of my mandatory challengers and I expect a tough fight with Arroyo. I believe 2020 and 2021 will see me unify and become undisputed and I can’t wait put a smile back on boxing fans faces.”
Arroyo challenges for a 112-pound world title for the third time in his career. The decorated Puerto Rican amateur was edged out via split decision by IBF champion Amnat Ruenroeng in September 2014 and then fell to pound-for -pound star Roman ‘Chocolatito’ Gonzalez in April 2016 for the WBC crown. The 34 year-old Arroyo enters the bout on the back of three wins in 2019 having returned to flyweight from a brief stint at 115 pounds. “I am very happy with this opportunity that my promoters Miguel Cotto Promotions, H2 Entertainment and Golden Boy Promotions have given me. I am following my dream of becoming a World champion,” said Arroyo. “I think Julio Cesar Martinez is a great champion the fans will see a fight full of action due to the styles of both of us. It is very good for boxing Puerto Rico vs. Mexico and I am eager to take the belt”
UNDERCARD
Junior welterweight Shakhram Giyasov of Uzbekistan will see action against Mexico's Francisco Rojo (22-3) on the Tulsa show. Giyasov is listed at 9-0 but is more accurately 10-3 because he had pro fights in the World Series of Boxing. Giyasov is coming off wins over Emanuel Taylor and Darleys Perez, whom he destroyed inside 30 seconds. Giyasov said, “I know how tough of a fight this is and have already started training with Coach Diaz in Southern California to prepare for victory. Huge thanks to my team at World of Boxing and Vadim Kornilov along with Matchroom Boxing and DAZN for this tremendous opportunity.”
Rojo (22-3, 15 KOs) returns to action following [two years and four months] on the sidelines and looking to spoil Giyasov’s rise. The Mexican has a wealth of experience from his 25 fight pro career, and the 29 year old is confident of causing an upset against the 26 year old. “What a wonderful opportunity,” said Rojo. “My gym is now open and I will be well prepared. I showed American fans I could fight when I fought Ryan Martin in Las Vegas and I’ll remind them again when I beat Giyasov.”
It promises to be a memorable night for amateur standout Marc Castro as he makes his pro debut alongside Nikita Ababiy and Raymond Ford.
Hearn inked a deal with Castro, with the 20 year-old turning over with an amateur record of 177 wins and 7 losses with a stellar 48-1 record in international and national competition, and in addition to being a two-time Amateur World Champion, Castro is a 16-time National Champion, three-time National Silver Gloves champion, and two-time National Junior Olympics Champion.
“I’m excited so start my professional journey to becoming a World champion,” said Castro. “The extra time has just made me even hungrier to get my career going and I cannot wait to showcase what I will bring to the pro game.”
Ababiy (8-0 6 KOs) fights for the ninth time in the paid ranks and for the first time since a controversial DQ win over Jonathan Baptista at the Staples Center in Los Angeles gave ‘White Chocolate’ a sixth win inside the distance since turning pro as one of Hearn’s first US signings in October 2018. “I’m excited to light up that ring, it’s been way too long,” said Ababiy. “I’ve been working hard behind the scenes and I will be looking to steal the show on August 16th – White Chocolate is back!”
Ford (5-0 2 KOs) will taste his sixth action as a pro and for the ‘Savage’, it’s a chance to unleash the frustrations of two-thirds of a year on the sidelines since the 21 year old from Camden, New Jersey recorded his second win inside the distance from his five pro fights to date in Phoenix in December 2019. “Due to injuries and this pandemic it will be eight months before I fight again,” said Ford. “It feels great to finally get back in the ring. It’s been hard during the pandemic, but I used this time to work on my craft and it made me go harder in the gym. On August 15th I will show the world why I’m the best prospect in boxing.”
The announcement of Hearn’s return to boxing in the States comes hot on the heels of the promoter releasing details of four stacked and ultra-competitive fight cards in Britain over four weeks in the unique setting of the grounds of the company’s Essex headquarters.
Hearn is following that bold move with more ambitious plans for his American return, with the elite-level bill set to have a unique setting in Tulsa unveiled soon. “We are ready to return in the States and just like Fight Camp in the UK, we plan to do things differently,” said Hearn. “We are heading outdoors in Tulsa, Oklahoma and we’re planning something unique and special for this double World championship header that should both thrill in the ring.
“Julio Cesar Martinez is a beast and one of the most exciting World champions in boxing. It’s Mexico v Puerto Rio as he faces mandatory challenger McWilliams Arroyo in a guaranteed thriller. In the co-main event, we stage the Undisputed Welterweight championship between Cecilia and Jessica which promises to be an electric pace between two great champions.
“Beneath them, ‘Wonder Boy’ Shakhram Giyasov steps up the gears as he homes in on a 140lbs World title shot and US amateur sensation Marc Castro makes his professional debut. Rising US stars Nikita Ababiy and Raymond Ford step up the opposition as they continue their rise to the top.”
