McWilliams Arroyo didn’t miss his starting chance, although will be new for an intermediate title.
The Puerto Rican who almost saw his dream of going for a world crown fade away when Mexican and current World Boxing Council (WBC) flyweight champion Julio César Martínez announced 24 hours before Friday’s weigh-in of an injury that would prevent him from playing his belt, he already has a rival and it will be to contest the interim government of that weight.
Arroyo, 35, who weighed 111.8 pounds at the weighing ceremony held in the hotel bubble of Miami’s Hard Rock Stadium, will face off against fellow Aztec Abraham Rodríguez, who is 27-2 and 13 KO, and under his defeats has a defeat in 2018 against Puerto Rican Ángel “Tito” Acosta. “An injury to the right hand left Martinez out, but thank goodness we managed to catch Abraham Rodríguez, albeit with great difficulty,” said Bryan Pérez, executive director of Miguel Cotto Promotions, who leads Arroyo ‘s career. “Rodríguez has to arrive today (Friday) to make the weight and comply with all protocols. The fight will also be a title fight, as will the commitment of the World Boxing Council (WBC) and its president Mauricio Sulaimán. This is the third time that McWilliams has dropped the fight due to a championship situation. So McWilliams is going for the intertitle, ”he said.
Rodríguez has four consecutive wins. The last of these in March 2020. It is the third time that Arroyo is chasing a world title. The former was lost to Thai Amnat Ruenroeng, in a very controversial match, and lost to Román “Chocolatito” Martínez by unanimous decision in 2016 in a fight where the Puerto Rican had a great demonstration.
“Thank goodness the matter has been resolved,” Arroyo said. “I’m lucky to have been honored. I have done a great workout and the effort will not go to waste. The truth is, when I heard that Martinez couldn’t fight it was a surprise and a lot more the day before a weigh-in. Seems like fate doesn’t want to see us together. But it’s things that happen. I have the chance now. It is a world title and we are ready for it. I’m going to do my job on Saturday and bring that title to Puerto Rico, ”Arroyo assured.
The fight between Arroyo and Martínez will be the co-main event of the evening and will be played out by double super middleweight champion Saúl “Canelo” Álvarez’s defense against Turkish Avni Yildrim.
Arroyo has a professional record of 20-4 and 15 KOs. His twin brother, McJoe Arroyo, was a champion once, now he is missing.