The COVID-19 pandemic prevented McWilliams Arroyo from seeing action in 2020, but the Puerto Rican boxer will now attempt to capture the flyweight crown of the World Boxing Council (WBC), on the 27th of February at the Hard Rock Hotel in Miami, Florida.
Arroyo will go up against dangerous puncher Julio Cesar Martinez of Mexico.
Arroyo, a former Olympian who turned professional in 2010 and arrives with a suitcase full of experience, will try for the third time to win a world title.
Martinez became champion in 2019 by beating Nicaraguan Cristofer Rosales.
“I am very excited and my dream has always been to become a world champion. Now I have that new opportunity under the company of Miguel Cotto Promotions. I have the tools and although I know it is a tough fight, we are prepared for tests like this one,” said Arroyo to Carlos Narvaez.
Arroyo had a great brawl in 2016 when he challenged Román “Chocolatito” González. Although he lost by unanimous decision, the Puerto Rican boxer left a great impression and later demonstrated his boxing quality with a majority decision victory over Carlos Cuadras.
“During the time that I was not able to fight the pandemic, I was active in the gym and also working with some fans and people who wanted to practice boxing to stay in shape. So we are ready to go. I’ll take advantage of this opportunity for which we have trained thoroughly. We know that Martinez is a great champion. He is an aggressive fighter and he has my respect, but in the ring it will be something else,” Arroyo said.
Martinez, 26, has a professional record of 17-1 and 13 KO’s. Arroyo, 35, is 20-4 with 15 KO’s.
“My career in boxing has been one of a lot of sacrifice, a lot of work, it hasn’t been easy. But thanks to boxing I am where I am today. I hope to be active for two or three more years, but now my mission is to get into the ring and become a world champion,” Martinez said.
The fight between Martinez and Arroyo will be the co-feature to Saul “Canelo” Alvarez’s mandatory super middleweight title defense against Avni Yildirim.