Martinez: “Frampton defeat was meant for me, loss has made me stronger”

By Nathan Orr

On Sep 6, Kiko Martinez is set to return to Irish shores in a mouth-watering rematch against Carl Frampton, the outdoor venue on the Titanic slipway will play host to 16,000 people.

Prior to the fight’s announcement, there was confusion to who the Spaniard would defend his IBF super bantamweight crown against next.  Many suggested that unifying the belts with WBA regular title holder Scott Quigg would be a viable option, although Martinez clarified his reasons for choosing to return to familiar Irish territory.

“I don’t want Quigg, I want Frampton. He beat me and I need to avenge that defeat. The last fight (with Frampton) was a very good fight, I think he was losing the fight before it got stopped. I took a high risk strategy and suffered with defeat, this time it will be different.”

Since suffering a ninth round stoppage defeat to the hands of Frampton, Martinez has bounced back in remarkable fashion. ‘La Sensacion’, in the space of a year and four months, has went on to not only claim the IBF title with an emphatic win over Jhonatan Romero but defend his title twice, respectively against Jeffrey Mathebula and Hozumi Hasegawa.

With the first meeting ending in despair for the Spaniard, many have questioned Martinez’s mental state in the build up to the rematch.  Martinez has denied these claims by stating that the loss to ‘The Jackal’ has allowed him to go on and be the fighter he is today.

“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. It was a bad time in my life, not just the fight itself but for reasons outside of the ring.

“Now however, I am a better boxer and a more complete person 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?”

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