Julio Cesar Martinez’s decision to vacate the WBC flyweight title may have been motivated by more than just a desire to fight at 115. Jake Donovan reports that “Rey” tested positive for a banned substance under the “Diuretics and Other Masking Agents” category around his March 30th decision win over Angelino Cordova.
As Donovan points out, Martinez (21-3, 15 KO) has long struggled with the flyweight limit despite standing a mere 5’2”. He famously missed weight for a super flyweight bout with Roman Gonzalez in 2022, making him someone who would very much benefit from diuretics even if they weren’t being used to hide other substances.
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bigger fall from grace among recent champions who didn’t lose their belt in the ring. Martinez’s inability to consistently make it to the ring or impress while there have turned him from one of the most must-see action fighters of the modern era to an afterthought. Though he’s just 29, I wouldn’t be surprised if this proved to be the beginning of the end.