Charlie Edwards clings on to WBC world title after Martinez KO is overturned to no-contest following illegal body shot
CHARLIE EDWARDS clung on to his WBC flyweight world title after Julio Cesar Martinez smashed him with an illegal body shot while he was on the floor and his defeat was switched to a no-contest.
The Sheffield-based ace, currently starring in Channel 5 reality show Celebs on the Farm filmed last summer, was in trouble in the third and wisely took a knee to get out of the attack.
But, while kneeling down and accepting an eight count, the Spaniard crouched down and whipped a left hook into his ribs that robbed him of all of his breath and his beloved belt - briefly.
Edwards accepted the result but WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman got into the ring and voided the bout, handing the Brit back his belt and killing Martinez’s wild celebrations.
The 26-year-old Steel City gym ace said: “I was hurt with a body shot that why I took a knee but then I was on the floor with a he hit me with a body shot and I couldn't recover.
“He did hurt me I won't deny that but it was the shot when I was on the floor that put me away.
"I agree it was the right decision because I took a knee and he hit me to the body and I could not recover. It just proves cheaters never prosper.";
The Mexican caused a huge upset in his previous fight, stopping highly rated Welshman Andrew Selby to earn his shot at the green and gold belt.
The first round was a cracker, the polar-opposite styles gelled instantly with Martinez marching forward and throwing hooks and uppercuts while Edwards tried to box from range with crisp straight shots.
There were two brilliant exchanges when both men enjoyed success, both landed flush punches but neither man wobbled.
The second was generously more of the same, Edwards was pinging out combinations from a safe distance while Martinez was hellbent on a war.
And he seemed to win the battle early in the third with a monstrous barrage Edwards could not escape.
An evil left hook sent Edwards barrelling across the ring and he was forced to desperately cover up. But Martinez’s nostrils were filled with the scent of Edwards’ blood and he went through the gears pounding the Brit.
Edwards took a knee and was happy to take at least an eight count. But Martinez crouched down and whipped a left hook into Edwards’ unguarded ribs.
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Edwards was destroyed and never looked like beating the count but the referee missed the illegal shot.
Furious promoter Eddie Hearn said: “That was more than a late shot, that was a punch from last week.”
But then Sulaiman entered the ring and voided the bout and ordered an immediate rematch.
