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Mario "Azabache" Martinez


BoztheMadman
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Mario "Azabache" Martinez was a super featherweight contender in the 80's and early 90's. He was a strong and durable fighter and a quality opponent of such big names as Julio Cesar Chavez, Jeff Fenech, Azumah Nelson, Roger Mayweather and Rolando Navarrete. He moved up to lightweight in the final phase of his career but he retired soon thereafter. His record is 51(31)-9-2. His nickname means "ignite" and it suited his fighting style perfectly.

http://suljosblog.com/suljos/wp-content/uploads/2015/07/AZABACHE-CHAVEZ.jpg

 

Martinez was born on 15 August 1965 in Guadalajara, Mexico. He turned professional in early 1980, at the age of only 14. After winning 14 fights and drawing one, he first experienced defeat against Rosendo Alonso on a ten round decision in 1981. After that, he went 20 fights without a loss, all but one draw were wins. The last two were knockout wins against former Salvador Sanchez-challenger Roberto Castanon (TKO6) and former WBC champion Rolando Navarrete (TKO5). On 13 September 1984 he got his first shot at a world title against Julio Cesar Chavez, who was 43-0. The fight was for the vacant WBC super feather title and Martinez proved he was not just there to make Chavez look good and gave Chavez plenty of trouble until he had to quit after the eight round. It is considered as one of Chavez's hardest fights in his prime, despite not having lasted that long. In November 1985 he was matched against a young "Mexican Assassin" Roger Mayweather but lost by a split decision. The fight was at 135 pounds however, so it didn't affect his ranking as a super featherweight. He then won eight fights before he received another shot at the same WBC title against the Ghanaian great Azumah Nelson. Again he impressed against another future hall of famer and decked Nelson once but lost a close split decision. They had a rematch a year later and this time Azumah stopped him in the 12th round after a dominant performance. He would then face Nelson's rival Jeff Fenech of Australia in November 1989. He decked Fenech in the 6th round but lost a clear decision against a more skilled and faster Fenech. His last title fight came in 1991 after he had become a lightweight but this time he lost a lopsided decision against South African WBO champion Dingaan Thobela. He retired in 1991 after getting stopped by unheralded Ramon Marchena but came back in 1995. After winning two bouts, the last for the IBO light welterweight title, he retired for good.

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