Julio Cesar Martinez vs. Joel Cordova: date, time, how to watch, background

FLYWEIGHT TITLEHOLDER JULIO CESAR MARTINEZ OF MEXICO DEFENDS HIS BELT AGAINST COUNTRYMAN JOEL CORDOVA ON SATURDAY IN GUADALAJARA

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JULIO CESAR MARTINEZ (17-1, 13 KOs)
vs. JOEL CORDOVA (12-4-2, 3 KOs)

• Date: Saturday, June 26
• Time: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
• Where: Guadalajara, Mexico
• TV/Stream: DAZN
• Cost: DAZN is $19 per month or $99 annually
• Division: Flyweights
• At stake: Martinez’s WBC title
• Pound-for-pound ranking: None
• Odds: Martinez 17½-1 favorite (average of multiple outlets)
• Also on the card: Daniel Matellon vs. Jose Argumedo, junior flyweights
• Prediction: Martinez KO 4
• Background: Martinez is one of the hottest little fighters in the world. The 26-year-old from Mexico City lost his pro debut in 2015 but has been perfect since, not counting a no-contest in 2019. He won the vacant WBC 112-round title by stopping Cristofer Rosales in nine rounds in December 2019 and has successfully defended twice, most recently by stopping Moises Garcia in two rounds in October. He defeated previously unbeaten Jay Harris by a unanimous decision in his first defense, which took place in February of last year. Martinez has said he wants to move up to 115 pounds and face Juan Francisco Estrada or Roman Gonzalez after winning one more title at 112. Cordova, also 26 and from Mexico City, is a relative unknown. He hasn’t lost since 2018 but has never faced an opponent anywhere near Martinez’s level. And his apparent lack of punching power – three knockouts in his 12 victories – probably won’t help his cause. He’s coming off a first-round knockout of journeyman Ottoniel Zarate in January.