Rodolfo Martínez Reversed a Herrera Defeat to Win the WBC
Rodolfo Martínez became WBC bantamweight champion by stopping Rafael Herrera in the fourth round on December 7, 1974. The victory reversed his defeat in an earlier championship meeting with Herrera.
The regional title and first world challenge
Martínez won the NABF bantamweight championship by knocking out Octavio Gómez in June 1972. His first WBC championship opportunity came against Herrera in Monterrey on April 14, 1973.
Both fighters were knocked down during a demanding contest. Herrera won by twelfth-round technical knockout, leaving Martínez to pursue another opportunity.
The championship reign and Zárate challenge
Martínez defeated Herrera in their December 1974 rematch to take the world title. His reign continued until Carlos Zárate challenged him at the Forum in Inglewood, California, on May 8, 1976.
Zárate won by ninth-round knockout. Martínez died in August 2022, and the WBC’s tribute recognized his NABF championship and his time as its world bantamweight titleholder.
Martínez had moments of success against Zárate, including a left counter that forced the challenger backward in the third round. Zárate changed the contest with a knockdown in the fifth. Martínez continued, but his legs looked increasingly unsteady as the bout progressed. A right hand and follow-up left produced the ninth-round finish, bringing a new champion to the WBC bantamweight division at the Forum.
Sources
- World Boxing Council: Martínez’s regional title, championship victory and death
- World Boxing Council: first Herrera–Martínez championship contest
- BoxRec / Long Beach Press-Telegram: Zárate–Martínez championship result
