WBC flyweight world champion Julio Cesar Martinez retained to action with a sixth round stoppage win over Joel Cordova at the Dome Alcalde – CODE Jalisco in Guadalajara, Mexico.

“I am grateful with the team and we’re aiming to stay at flyweight and unify the titles,” said Martinez. “I am so happy my family and my fans are here in Mexico for me and to support me this evening.

“He was as tough as I expected, a great fighter and we’re all here to win, so all respect to him. Now I want to unify next.”

Wrecking machine Martinez (18-1 14 KOs) was making the third defense of his title, but Cordova (12-5-2 3 KOs) began the fight in fine style and was giving Martinez a stern examination in the first third of the bout - before the tide changed dramatically and quickly.

A left hook in the fifth stunned Cordova and although the challenger rode that well, a mirror image of the shot floored him early in the sixth round put Cordova on the floor - and Martinez was ruthless as he went in for the kill and forced the referee to halt the contest and record a dominant stoppage win.

“I believe JCM is the best 112lb fighter in the world,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “He’s certainly the most exciting, he just throws with you, he wants you to throw. You don’t see KOs in the lighter divisions, but you do with him.

“I think this kid is a superstar, Eddy Reynoso is behind him, we’re behind him, this kid is going all the way. I think he should unify first at flyweight whether that’s Sunny Edwards, Artem Dalakian, Junto Nakatani, and then up to super flyweight and then up to bantamweight over time. A fight with Juan Francisco Estrada is a super-fight in Mexico, and we’ll see Martinez back out in September.”