Mario Martínez, also known as ''Azabache'' (born 15 August 1965) is a Mexican former professional

boxer Boxer most commonly refers to: * Boxer (boxing), a competitor in the sport of boxing *Boxer (dog), a breed of dog Boxer or boxers may also refer to: Animal kingdom * Boxer crab * Boxer shrimp, a small group of decapod crustaceans * Boxer snipe ee ...

best known for losing to

Julio César Chávez Julio César Chávez González (; born July 12, 1962), also known as Julio César Chávez Sr., is a Mexican former professional boxer who competed from 1980 to 2005. A multiple-time world champion in three weight divisions, Chávez was liste ...

for the then-vacant

WBC WBC may stand for: Business *Westinghouse Broadcasting Company, a former large India broadcaster now folded into CBS *Westpac (New Delhi Exchange code: WBC), a multinational Financial services company *Wholesale Broadband Connect, BT Wholesale's ...

Super Featherweight Super featherweight, also known as junior lightweight, is a boxing weight classes, weight division in professional boxing, contested between and . The super featherweight division was established by the New York Walker Law in 1920, although firs ...

title on 13 September 1984. It is said that such bout catapulted Chavez's career.

Professional career

Mario Martínez became a professional boxer at the age of 16 in his native Guadalajara, Jalisco. He lost one of his early fights against fellow Mexican Rosendo Alonso, but knocked-out Spanish Roberto Castañón and

Filipino Filipino may refer to: * Something from or related to the Philippines ** Filipino language, standardized variety of 'Tagalog', the national language and one of the official languages of the Philippines. ** Filipinos, people who are citizens of th ...

former world champion

Rolando Navarrete Rolando Navarrete (born February 14, 1957) is a Filipino former professional boxer who competed from 1973 to 1991. He held the WBC super-featherweight title between August 1981 and May 1982. Fighting style A fine boxer, Navarrete had a good tal ...

in 1984. His victory against Navarrete earned him a shot against

for the vacant

title on 13 September 1984. In that fight, staged at the Grand Olympic Auditorium in

Los Angeles, California Los Angeles ( ; es, Los Ángeles, link=no , ), often referred to by its initials L.A., is the largest city in the state of California and the second most populous city in the United States after New York City, as well as one of the world' ...

, Chávez knocked him out. A year later, in 1985, he lost a close split decision to Roger Mayweather. After eight consecutive victories, he challenged

Azumah Nelson Azumah Nelson (born 19 July 1958) is a Ghanaian former professional boxer who competed from 1979 to 2008. He was a two-weight world champion, having held the WBC featherweight title from 1984 to 1987 and the WBC super-featherweight title twice ...

for the vacant WBC World super featherweight title, but lost by an unpopular split decision. Martinez scored a knockdown in the 10th round and most ringside observers believed he had a decided edge in the contest. In 1989, he faced Nelson in a rematch but lost by 12th round tko. Later on, he was beaten by

Jeff Fenech Jeff Fenech (born 28 May 1964) is an Australian former professional boxer who competed between 1984 and 2008. He won world titles in three weight divisions, having held the IBF bantamweight title from 1985 to 1987, the WBC super-bantamweight ...

and Dingaan Thobela. Martínez retired at the age of 31.

Exhibition boxing record

References

1965 births Living people Boxers from Guadalajara, Jalisco Super-featherweight boxers Mexican male boxers {{Mexico-boxing-bio-stub