Mexican vows KO win vs Villanueva

Mexican warrior Edgar “Chololo” Martinez is planning to create a massive earthquake in the Pacific Grand Ball Room of the Waterfront Cebu City Hotel this Saturday when he battles the unbeaten “King” Arthur Villanueva in the co-main event of Pinoy Pride XXII: The Revenge.

Martinez who sports a record of 16-7,10KOs, vowed that he’ll be stronger than the 7.2-magnitude quake that struck the Visayas region last Oct. 15 when he faces Villanueva (23-0, 13KOs) for the vacant WBO International Super Flyweight title.

“My hands will be the last thing Villanueva sees before I knock him out,” said Martinez during yesterday’s press conference held at the Formo Restaurant and Lounge along with trainer Franco Gabaldon Herrera.

Herrera brought Mexican Raul Hidalgo here in Cebu last March 2012 to fight ALA Boxing Gym’s AJ “Bazooka” Banal for the WBO Asia Pacific Bantamweight title. Banal won via first round TKO.

A last-minute replacement opponent for Villanueva, Martinez is on a six-match win streak, knocking out five of those six.

Martinez considers unbeaten WBC International Silver Super Flyweight champion Ivan Morales, the younger brother of Mexican ring legend Erik “El Terible” Morales and former WBA minimumweight champion Sammy Gutierrez as the toughest he has so far fought. He lost to Morales in the first round via knock-out and by 3rd round TKO against Gutierrez.

He also fought and lost to WBC Youth Intercontinental lightweight champion Robert Manzanarez via sixth round TKO.

“I work hard in the gym for six months and I come here to win and take the title to Mexico,” said Martinez who was supposed to fight Filipino Marlon Tapales last August but the match was cancelled.

He said that he has a scheduled rematch against Morales but opted to sign the contract with ALA Promotions to replace fellow Mexicans Oscar Blanquet and Jose Cabrera to fight Villanueva.

“I’ll try to knock him out or if not I will win unanimously. Villanueva is right handed and that kind of opponent suits my style inside the ring,” said Martinez.

Martinez also showed his charitable side when he said that he is willing to donate part of his purse to the victims of the earthquake in Bohol and urged boxing fans to watch his fight against Villanueva because it will further heat up the rivalry between PHL and Mexico.

Villanueva and Martinez will face today for the final press conference to be held at the Waterfront Hotel and Casino along with co-main event boxers Genesis ‘Azukal’ Servania (22-0, 8KOs) and his opponent, former world champion Rafael “El Torito” Concepcion (18-6, 8KOs).