Thursday, October 24, 2013
EDGAR Martinez may be a last-minute replacement opponent for unbeaten Arthur Villanueva. But despite taking the fight on short notice, he is confident that he will shock the world by scoring a big upset over the world-rated Filipino prospect.
“Villanueva, see my fist, this will be the last thing that you will see. Mexicans are the best fighters in the world,” Martinez said yesterday in a press conference at the Formo Restaurant and Lounge.
Villanueva and Martinez are fighting for the vacant World Boxing Organization International super flyweight belt at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino this Saturday night.
“When I fight, I fight intelligently. I will try to knock him out. He’s a strong guy but I don’t care if I win by knockout or decision. I just want to win,” said Martinez, who has won his last five fights by knockout.
Martinez has fought two renowned boxers in Mexico, former interim world champion Sammy Gutierrez and Ivan Morales, the legendary Erik Morales’ younger brother. He didn’t last long with both and was knocked out in the first by Ivan and in the third by Gutierrez.
A win over Villanueva should catapult Martinez’s career to new heights because the 24-year-old Bacolod City native is ranked in all four major boxing sanctioning bodies – No. 2 in the WBO, No. 5 in the International Boxing Federation, No. 10 in the World Boxing Association (WBA) and No. 13 in the World Boxing Council.
Martinez is 16-7 with 10 knockouts, while Villanueva is 23-0 with 13 knockouts.
Unbeaten Genesis Servania faces off with former interim WBA super flyweight titleholder Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion for the vacant WBO super bantamweight strap in the main event of Pinoy Pride XXII – “The Revenge.”
http://www.sunstar.com.ph/cebu/sports/2013/10/24/i-will-shock-world-310225