In New Hampshire, WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez and McWilliams Arroyo had a brief but memorable war. Arroyo knocked Martinez down in round one, and Martinez returned the favor with a knockdown of his own, also in the first three minutes. Martinez put Arroyo down once again in the second round, but Arroyo soon suffered a nasty cut from a butt. He told the doctor he could not see out of his right eye, which put an end to the fight. Boxingtalk spoke with Arroyo and here is what the Puerto Rican flyweight had to say:
Ivan Montiel: That sure was a war, just like we expected!
McWilliams Arroyo: Yeah it was starting out good. I caught him first then he caught me. In between, there was a couple of head-butts... just look at my eye bro it’s crazy. I had to get eight stitches. Martinez kept coming in with his head. Sh*t happens I guess.
IM: It was an amazing fight as we expected, this fight would’ve been even better if it had continued!
MA: Of course but you know my eye was f*cked up due to the head-butts.
IM: What were your thoughts once you dropped him?
MA: What do you think? I wanted to take him out of there but then I got clocked. It was a great fight and hopefully we can do it again in a couple of months. You know that I will be back in the gym.
IM: Are you going to push for a rematch?
MA: Yeah that’s what I am going to do.
IM: What was your corner saying once they saw those cuts?
MA: They asked me if I could see but I couldn’t see.
IM: Did you end up talking to Julio Cesar Martinez afterwards?
MA: Nah we didn’t talk, I saw him but he didn’t talk to me.
IM: How did you see this fight playing out?
MA: I started off good but then I got careless and then he caught me. I made a mistake and he made me pay for it. Unfortunately, he came in with his head. The next time I will be alert for his head-butts. Martinez used his head too many times.
IM: The second knockdown didn’t look to be legal to me...
MA: No, that second knockdown he scored, it was a legit knockdown. Unfortunately I was already cut from head-butts. Every time I would get head-butted that ref would say something. The rules are that if a fight is stopped before the fourth round, it’s a no decision. Eventually this fight had to be stopped especially if I was going to continue fighting with one eye.
IM: Do you think that Martinez will give you a rematch?
MA: Well he’s supposed to since I am the WBC interim champ. This fight as you know, should have happened before and now we fight and it’s a no decision. I don’t know what to say, only God knows what will happen.
IM: It was a war like you anticipated
MA: Yeah, it’s like I told everyone that fight was supposed to be what boxing fans wanted. I went in there and fought him.
IM: Were you surprised that Martinez got back up?
MA: No because I knew that he’s the champ. I know that Martinez is there to fight like myself.
IM: I take it that you will be back in the gym to work as always see what’s next.
MA: Yeah always, you know me. I am thinking in a week or so due to the cut and then I will be back in the gym.
IM: Well I sure hope to see that rematch since it took you a long time to get Julio Cesar Martinez in that ring.
MA: Yeah let’s see what happens. Hopefully we get good news soon in the meantime we will keep working. I’ve already been in that ring with Martinez therefore I will know what to expect the second time around. Boxing fans know that we come to fight.
IM: That’s right! Puerto Rico versus Mexico always give good wars!
MA: Hopefully we fight again.
IM: Did you talk with yor promoter, Miguel Cotto?
MA: Yeah, he spoke with me before the fight and said a few words that gave me motivation.
