WBC flyweight champion Julio Cesar Martinez is currently without an opponent for next week’s October 23 show in Mexico City after Maximino Flores withdrew after testing positive for Covid-19.
A late replacement is being hunted for the stiff-hitting Mexican who was last in action decisioning a spirited Jay Harris in February.
Previously, Martinez (16-1, 12 KOs and 1 NC) had to pull out of an August 15 defence against McWilliams Arroyo in Tulsa due to an ailment unrelated to Covid-19.
IBO champion Flores (25-4-2, 17 KOs) had been hoping to pick up a second belt after his seventh-round technical decision win over Carlo Caesar Peñalosa in the Philippines in August 2019. Mexican Flores previously dropped a decision to Andrew Selby in October 2017.
A further report from ESPN Deportes’ Salvador Rodriguez suggested that WBC super-flyweight champion Juan Francisco Estrada may also need a fresh foe on the October 23 show following a lack of clarity regarding Carlos Cuadras’ Covid-19 test.
“So the issue with Carlos Cuadras. His entire team tested negative and he did not,” tweeted Rodriguez. “This Friday, a new test will be done in another laboratory and on that it will be decided what happens with the fight against ‘Gallo’ Estrada. Tests will follow for all participants.”
Testing times for boxing and the world.