Andrew Selby has suffered the first defeat of his professional boxing career, with the Welsh flyweight knocked out in five rounds by Julio Cesar Martinez in Mexico City.
The 30-year-old journeyed into enemy territory hoping to secure a title shot at WBC flyweight champion Charlie Edwards, who defended his crown against Spain’s Angel Moreno at the Copper Box Arena on Saturday evening.
However Selby, a decorated amateur who turned professional in 2015, will now have to rebuild his career after failing in his attempt to become the first man to beat Martinez since his debut.
Selby started well but the fight turned in Martinez’s favour in the third, when a clash of heads opened up a deep gash along the Welshman’s left eyebrow. Martinez was deducted a point, with the ringside doctor indicating that Selby could continue.
The Mexican enjoyed more success in the fourth, landing a succession of big body shots, before he dropped Selby in the fifth with a left hook landed to his opponent’s liver. Selby failed to beat the referee’s count.
Martinez will now be the WBC’s mandatory challenger to Edwards’ belt.
