Undisputed Fight Magazine - Frampton v Martinez Sep 10???

[shaunundisputed]

AFTER fighting out of his native Belfast two fights running, Carl Frampton may be returning home for the biggest date of his boxing career on Sept 10th.

Negotiations are well underway for ‘The Jackal’ to challenge reigning European Super Bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez in what would be only his 11th professional contest so far. “Everyone’s in talks at the moment for this fight to happen at the Odyssey Arena on the undercard of Paul McCloskey’s next fight. The original offer that they made was terrible, everything was in Martinez’ favour with so many options. We said no unless conditions change so they phoned us back and said they would give us the fight with no options,” Frampton explained to UNDISPUTED.

A novice fighting for a prestigious title is nothing new to the sport these days and the Northern Irishman feels not only is he ready for the Spaniard but that he will be going up against a style that’s made for him. “He’s a good big, big puncher but he’s not the fastest. He’s got slow feet but in his last two fights he’s tried to box a bit. But he’s made for me. I love people that want to trade with me and he’s one of them,” he declared.

Martinez is no stranger to British and Irish boxing fans having shared the ring with Bernard Dunne, Rendall Munroe (twice) and Jason Booth – the latter giving him victory and a second stint as European champion. “No doubt it’ll be my toughest fight to date,” Frampton said. “But this is the fight I want and it’d be disappointing if I didn’t get it.”

The 24-year-old will obviously have to improve on his last fight with Robbie Turley back in June but Frampton has taken a lot more heart from his performance than he initially declared. “I’ve watched the fight back on television and it wasn’t as bad as I made it out to be at the press conference afterwards. I did ten rounds for the first time and since it was a British title eliminator I do have that to fall back on if the Martinez fight doesn’t happen.” And despite the loftier heights a European title victory would place him at, Frampton wouldn’t begrudge winning the Lonsdale belt. “I’ve love to win that belt, defend it three times and own it.”

However should Frampton get the unexpected shot at Martinez he feels he already has an advantage over the champion. “He won’t be getting the kind if sparring in Spain that I get over here. I’m sparring with guys like John Simpson, and everyone knows how tough he is. That’s what’s bringing me on.”


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