By Ian S Palmer
The WBC Flyweight Champion Julio Cesar Martinez of Mexico defends his title for the first time this Saturday when he meets Jay Harris of Swansea, Wales. Martinez stopped former champion Cristofer Rosales of Nicaragua in the ninth round in December to win the belt while Harris stopped Paddy Barnes in the fourth round in October to take the vacant IBF Intercontinental Flyweight Belt. The 12-round bout this weekend will take place in Frisco, Texas and can be seen live in North America on DAZN. Fans in the UK can catch the action on Sky Sports Action.
February 24, 2020; Frisco, TX, USA; WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez and Jay Harris face off outside the Ford Center at The Star. The two will meet on the Matchroom Boxing USA card at the Ford Center on February 29, 2020. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland/Matchroom Boxing USA
The 25-year-old Martinez stopped WBC Champ Charlie Edwards in three rounds last August but the fight was eventually ruled a no-contest as Martinez landed on Edwards while he had a knee on the canvas. Edwards had beaten Rosales by unanimous decision nine months earlier to win the title. Martinez, who’s also known as Julio Cesar Martinez Aguilar, hails from Mexico City and carries a record of 15-1 with 12 Kos to his name. Unfortunately there’s no reach listed for Martinez but he’s 5-feet-4-inches tall.
Martinez has quite a bit of power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 70.6 per cent and has posted nine straight stoppages. He turned pro in 2015 and has boxed just 66 rounds since with his lone defeat being a four-round split decision to Joaquin Cruz in his pro debut. Martinez then avenged the defeat with an eight-round majority decision the next year. He’s also beaten the likes of former world champion Edgar Sosa as well as Martin Tecuapetla, Andrew Selby, Victor Ruiz and Juan Lopez Martinez.
The 29-year-old Harris is relatively unknown outside of the UK and he’s not really that recognizable there either. However, he did beat Angel Moreno by 12-round unanimous decision last June to capture the vacant European Flyweight Title. Since turning pro he’s also won the Commonwealth Crown. Harris made his pro debut in 2-13 and has 81 rounds of experience under his belt. Before that, he was a pretty good amateur.
Harris has a perfect record as a pro at 17-0 with 9 Kos. He’s not the hardest hitter out there with average power and a current knockout ratio of 52.3 per cent. His power shouldn’t be taken lightly though but he’s lacking experience against top level boxers. So far he’s beaten the likes of Barnes, Moreno, Ross Murray, Thomas Essomba, Gyula Dodu, Cristian Narvaez and Brett Fidoe so he’s taking a giant leap up in class this weekend.
Prediction…
I give the crowd-pleasing Martinez the decided edge in power, experience and aggression and they both have fine chins. I just think Martinez will eventually wear Harris down and dominate him and if he can’t stop the Welshmen he should certainly do enough to retain the title by decision.
