‘Champion, champion’ – Kiko Martinez backs Ruadhan Farrell ahead of Irish title war
Ruadhan Farrell goes into Saturday night’s Irish title fight with the endorsement of Irish boxing’s favourite away fighter ringing loudly in his ears.
Former world champion Kiko Martinez was shouting “champion, champion” around the gym as Farrell prepared for his National Stadium showdown with Paul Loonam – and is backing the Belfast man to win the Judgement Day main event.
‘El Nino’ got the chance to share the gym and even the ring with Spain’s greatest ever boxer while training for the eagerly anticipated Irish title fight.
It seems he made an impression and won a supporter.
“He was shouting around the gym, ‘champion, champion’ and has stayed in touch wishing me the best of luck for it,” Farrell told Irish-boxing.com.
For Farrell, the opportunity to work with a fighter who has been there and done it all was invaluable.
“I took more positives from the spar than negatives,” he said.
“He gave me good feedback from it and to share a ring with a guy who’s been there and done it all was amazing for me. We sparred well and got great work in. He hits like a train.”
Martinez, who fought Bernard Dunne and Carl Frampton [twice], was also complimentary of ‘El Nino’s’ power.
“I asked him, and he said I can punch, I managed everything well and I have a massive heart.”
Farrell takes that confidence into Saturday night’s Irish super bantamweight title clash with Loonam.
He has nothing but respect for his opponent, but expects an all-out Irish war when the bell rings.
“Paul is a great champion and has put everything into this camp, so it’s best man win come Saturday night,” he adds, before predicting fireworks.
“The fight is going to be all Irish war — blood, sweat, tears, violence all over it.”
