This item got a bit lost in our boxing news, but Rodolfo Martinez, a terrific bantamweight from the '70s passed away a couple of weeks back. Martinez was one of that great explosion of Mexican bantamweights who emerged in the 60s and 70s. A converted southpaw who went on to beat Rafael Herrera (winning the WBC bantamweight title after having lost to Herrera in two previous wars), Venice Borkorsor, Famoso Gomez, Rogelio Lara, Raul Cruz, Kazuyoshi Kanazawa and Yoshio Nakane. Didn't give up his bantamweight title to Carlos Zarate without a fight - managing to rattle Zarate in the 3rd round before succumbing in 9. Also pulled a big upset in the twilight of his career when he traveled to San Antonio as fodder to the streaking, undefeated hometowner Mike Ayala. But Martinez didn't read the script and took Ayala out in 7. Finished with a career record of 44-7-1 with 35 KOs. RIP champ.
