McWilliams Arroyo did not miss the starting opportunity, although the new one will be for an interim title.
The Puerto Rican who almost saw his dream of going to a world crown again fades when Mexican and current World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight champion Julio César Martínez announced 24 hours before the weigh-in since Friday about an injury that would prevent him from defending his belt, he already has a rival and will be disputing the interim reign of that weight.
Arroyo, 35, who weighed 111.8 pounds at the balloon ceremony at the Hard Rock Stadium hotel in Miami, will face 27-2 and 13 KO Aztec counterpart Abraham Rodríguez. among his defeats, he has one in 2018 against the Puerto Rican Ángel “Tito” Acosta. “A right hand injury left Martinez, but thank God we were able to take Abraham Rodriguez, albeit with great effort,” said Bryan Perez, executive director of Miguel Cotto Promotions, which manages Arroyo’s career. . “Rodríguez must arrive today (Friday) to do the weight and to follow all the protocols. The fight will also be a title fight, as was the commitment of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and its president, Mauricio Sulaimán. This is the third time that McWilliams has given up the fight due to a champion situation. So McWilliams will choose the interim title, “he said.
Rodríguez comes out of four consecutive victories. The last of these is in March 2020. This is the third time that Arroyo will go for a world title. The first was lost to the Thai Amnat Ruenroeng, in a very controversial match, and lost in 2016 to Román “Chocolatito” Martínez by unanimous decision in a fight in which the Puerto Rican had a great demonstration.
“Thank God the problem has been solved,” Arroyo said. “I am just happy to be honored. I did a great workout and the effort will not be wasted. The truth is that when I found out that Martinez can’t fight, it was a surprise and much more the day before a weigh-in. Looks like fate doesn’t want to see us together. But there are things that happen. I have the opportunity now. It is a world title and we are ready. I’m going to do my job on Saturday and bring that title to Puerto Rico, “Arroyo said.
The fight between Arroyo and Martínez will be the co-main event of the evening, which will be played by the defense of the double super-middle champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez against the Turkish Avni Yildrim.
Arroyo has a professional record of 20-4 and 15 KOs. His twin brother, McJoe Arroyo, was once champion once, now missing.