Martinez: God was behind my first Carl Frampton defeat

IRISH managed super bantamweight Gullerimo Rigondeaux claimed this week he knows he will make a successful defence of his WBA World title because it is written in The Bible.

In keeping with the divine theme IBF champion Kiko Martinez claims God was behind his defeat to Carl Frampton back in February of 2013- and no, Martinez doesn’t mean ‘God’ in the Southampton Matt Le Tisser way.

The well traveled puncher also puts some blame on his mental state at the time and an over aggressive approach and remains reluctant to send any praise the way of the fighter who stopped him in round 9 of an entertaining Continental battle.

While he might not be a more rounded boxer- Martinez still applies the come forward pressure style- he claims he is a more rounded person and that will prove vital when the pair trade leather in what could prove a legendary night for Irish boxing at the Titanic Quarter.

The Sergio Martinez promoted fighter with significant Irish previous  feels he will avenge  his defeat and is so confident he will win he is discussing a rubber match.

“Defeat was meant for me, God made that defeat. That loss has made me stronger. The first fight with Frampton was the toughest fight of my career. Not just the fight itself but for reasons outside the ring,” Martinez told Nathan Orr of Boxingscene.

“Now I am a better boxer and a more complete person and with the help of my family I am mentally stronger. Maybe after the fight there will be another opportunity for Carl Frampton because I am going to win. Why not a trilogy?”

“The last fight was a very good fight. I think he was losing on points before it got stopped. I took a high risk strategy and suffered with defeat, this time it will be different.”

The man who had Bernard Dunne gone in 86 second back in 2006 was on the radar of a number of high profile super bantamweight’s including Frampton’s domestic rival Scott Quigg. However, he elected to come to Belfast as he has revenge on his mind.

“I didn’t want Quigg I wanted Frampton. He beat me and I need to avenge that defeat.”

Frampton fans, however, will argue the ‘The Jackal’s’ ticket selling prowess meant Belfast was the best option financially for the former three time European champion- and will highlight the fact Martinez twice pulled out of a Frampton bout before their first meeting and rebuffed offers of a Belfast return last year.