Martinez, Badillo to Meet for Vacant Title

Bantamweight Mauricio Martinez, the man nobody wants to fight, will take on Marcos Badillo of Mexico City in tonight’s 12-round main event at the Arrowhead Pond.

Badillo (12-3, five knockouts) is the third opponent for Martinez (11-3-1, six knockouts), who will fight Badillo for the vacant North American Boxing Organization belt.

Mexico City’s Joel Luna Zarate was scheduled to fight Martinez but he pulled out when it looked as if he would get another shot at World Boxing Council champion Gerry Penalosa. Zarate didn’t want a tough fight with Martinez jeopardizing a possible title bout with Penalosa. Jesus Sarabia was next in line for Martinez, but he also fell out.

Martinez, 23, has lost to former world champion Hector Acero twice and current world champion Fred Norwood. He is coming off a sixth-round knockout of Oscar Maldonado in March. Badillo, 25, owns a victory over Indio’s Carlos Hernandez.

In the co-main event, Mexico City’s Israel Vazquez (17-1, 15 knockouts) of Mexico City, will take on countryman Juan Manuel Chavez (21-20, 10 knockouts) in a 10-round featherweight bout. In a 10-round junior middleweight bout, Dwain Williams (12-2, 10 knockouts) of Los Angeles fights Jesus Mayorga (24-18-2, 18 knockouts) of Culiacan, Mexico.