By: Sean Crose
Looks like it’s been shaping up to be a pretty good fight. WBC featherweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez may have been the front-runner to step in to face the virtually unknown Samuel Carmona, but the undefeated former Olympic runner clearly went to Glendale, Arizona to win. . Although Martinez was initially tipped for a rematch with McWilliams Arroyo, Carmona proved to be a more worthy replacement (McWilliams was unavailable due to injury).
Carbona landed well and was able to keep Martinez from slowing down throughout the first half of the round. By midway through the scheduled twelfth round, it looked as though there might be an ongoing upset. Then something happened. In fact, it appears to be a wound on Carbona’s right hand. Needless to say, the Spaniard had to spend most of the second half of the match in one-handed teamfights – if he was in teamfights. Without permissions, all of Carbona’s impressive footwork starts to sound like running. Martinez was able to take advantage of the moment, at least somewhat. The question after the final bell is whether either man has done enough to win.
Needless to say, Martinez won with a score of 114-114, 117-11, 116-112. Although one referee ruled the match a draw, the other two gave Martinez a comfortable win. It’s worth wondering how things would have turned out if Carbona hadn’t been injured.
