Julio Cesar Martinez vs Moises Calleros Preview Oct. 23rd
WBC Flyweight Champion Julio Cesar Martinez of Mexico defends his title for the second time this Friday, Oct. 23rd when he meets fellow countryman Moises Calleros in Mexico City. Martinez stopped former champion Cristofer Rosales of Nicaragua in the ninth round in December to win the belt and beat Jay Harris by unanimous decision in his first defence in February. Calleros last fought in February as well when be beat Javier Romano via a six-round unanimous decision. The 12-round bout this weekend can be seen live in most countries on DAZN.
**Watch live on DAZN this Friday. Your first month is free.
Martinez vs Calleros Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Moises Calleros +900
- Julio Cesar Martinez -2000
My Pick
The 25-year-old Martinez stopped WBC Champ Charlie Edwards in three rounds in August, 2019 but the fight was eventually ruled a no-contest as Martinez landed on Edwards while he had a knee on the canvas. Edwards had beaten Cristofer Rosales by unanimous decision nine months earlier to win the title. Martinez, who’s also known as Julio Cesar Martinez Aguilar, hails from Mexico City and carries a record of 16-1 with 12 Kos to his name. He stands 5-feet-2-inches tall and has a 64-inch reach.
Martinez has quite a bit of power in his fists with a current knockout ratio of 66.6 per cent and posted nine straight stoppages until Harris took him the distance in February. He turned pro in 2015 and has boxed just 78 rounds since with his lone defeat being a four-round split decision to Joaquin Cruz in his pro debut. Martinez then avenged the defeat with an eight-round majority decision the next year. He’s also beaten the likes of former world champion Edgar Sosa as well as Martin Tecuapetla, Andrew Selby, Victor Ruiz and Juan Lopez Martinez.
Calleros is a 31-year-old who fought as low as 106 lbs on April, 2019 and as high as 122.5 lbs three months later. He’s a late replacement for this bout as Maximino Flores, the original opponent, tested positive for Covid-19. Calleros carries around a mark of 33-9-1 with 17 Kos and has won his last five fights. This isn’t his first crack at a world title belt as he lost to Tatsuya Fukuhara in 2017 by split decision for an interim Minimumweight Title.
He was also stopped after eight rounds in 2018 by Ryuyu Yamanaka for the WBO Minimumweight Crown. Calleros was also stopped by Samuel Gutierrez in four rounds in 2014 and in the 11th round by Carlos Perez in 2010 for the WBC Latino Minimumweight Belt. He also dropped decisions to Perez, Juan Gomez, Julian Yedras, Francisco Rodriguez and Jose Argumedo with his draw coming against Jose Segovia.
Calleros has boxed 256 rounds since his pro debut in 2008 and has a current knockout ratio of 39.5 per cent. He stands 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 68-inch reach to give him a four-inch reach edge over Martinez and two inches in height. Since turning pro he’s captured the NABF Minimumweight Title and WBO NABO Flyweight Crown but he’s definitely stepping up his level of competition this weekend.
Prediction…
I give the crowd-pleasing Martinez the decided edge in power, chin and aggression while Calleros has more experience, but against limited opposition. Martinez is expected to eventually wear Calleros down and dominate him and if he can’t stop him he should certainly do enough to retain his title once again by decision.
Martinez should be too powerful and aggressive for Calleros.
Play: Martinez -2000 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Julio Cesar Martinez betting • Moises Calleros betting