Julio Cesar Martinez-McWilliams Arroyo fight ruled no-contest

Flyweight titleholder Julio Cesar Martinez’s defense against McWilliams Arroyo on the Demetrius Andrade-Jason Quigley card Saturday was ruled a no-contest.

Arroyo suffered two cuts above his right eye, which were attributed to an accidental head butt in a bloody second round. After the round, the ring doctor asked Arroyo whether he could see out of the eye and he said he couldn’t even though it wasn’t bleeding at that moment. Thus, the fight was stopped.

Did Arroyo (21-4, 16 KOs) quit? That will be how many see it.

The fight had been wild leading up to the abrupt ending. Arroyo put the champion down with left hook midway through the opening round and Martinez (18-1, 14 KOs) returned the favor in the final seconds with the same punch, hurting Arroyo badly.

Martinez put Arroyo down again with a right to the side of the head and a push in the middle of Round 2, during which the cuts bled profusely.

Then came Arroyo’s decision to stop fighting, which initially sent Martinez into a passionate celebration. However, much to his dismay, he soon learned that the fight would be ruled a no-contest.

Martinez was making the fourth defense of the title he won by stopping Cristofer Rosales in 2019. This was Arroyo’s third shot at a major title. The Puerto Rican lost to Amnat Ruenroeng and Roman Gonzalez in previous championship bouts.