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Kiko Martínez: Frampton knocks out Quigg

This Saturday, Carl Frampton defends his IBF super bantamweight title against Alejandro Gonzélez at the Don Haskins Centre in El Paso, Texas.On the same night, in Manchester, former Frampton foe, Kiko Martínez faces Bury’s Scott Quigg in what will be the toughest fight of the Englishman’s career thus far.

Speaking in depth to the Belfast Telegraph from his base in Spain, Martinez discussed Frampton, as well as his upcoming bout with the Belfast man’s rival.

On the IBF super bantamweight champion and his upcoming defence, Martinez spoke in glowing terms, describing the Tiger’s Bay boxer as an “amazing fighter – I’m sure that in the future he can beat anybody in the higher weight divisions and I believe he will beat Gonzalez by knockout, no doubt about it. He is much better than Gonzalez. There’s a very big difference”

A mutual bond and friendship certainly developed across the pair’s two epic fights for the European and World titles, with the Spaniard continuing – “Carl is a super champion, he is really great, I think the hardest fight I have ever had was the first fight when he stopped me.”

Indeed Martínez believes that these wars have left him in good stead ahead of his bout with Quigg, with the 28 year old saying that “I’m very sure that the fights against Carl made me better and the experience will be very important to help me win against Scott.”

When quizzed on what would happen if/when Frampton and Quigg meet in the ring, Martínez is confident of the outcome, arguing that “in my opinion, Frampton is better than Quigg and I think that he would win by KO.

The Alicante brawler wants this to be proven conclusively, claiming that “I hope that this fight will take place someday, but after Scott has lost this fight against me.”

On his fight with the former British champion, Martinez predicts that “I will beat Quigg – I will not go crazy, we have a fight plan for 12 rounds and I will follow it. If I win by knockout it will be better, but the goal is the belt.”

A fight with Quigg had not been on the radar of ‘La Sensación’ who explains that “I had been waiting to fight the WBA bantamweight champion Juan Carlos Payano but when my team told me about fighting Scott I had no doubts. All these months I have been training so hard and I feel great, I’m in a perfect physical condition.”

Looking ahead, Martínez mused that a trilogy with ‘The Jackal’ is a possibility, stating that “if I beat Quigg, maybe a third fight with Frampton is on the cards – I am always ready to fight against Frampton.”

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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