By Jack Sumner
Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton faces his ‘Judgement Day’ when he steps into Belfast’s Odyssey Arena this Saturday, when the Northern Irishman attempts to rip the European super bantamweight title from it’s tough Spanish holder Kiko Martinez.
Frampton (15-0, 10 KOs) has been on a steep trajectory of late, culminating in the impressive sixth-round stoppage of former IBF champion Steve Molitor in September. The Odyssey was rocking that night as the hometown boy dominated the experienced Canadian in a performance that reverberated at world level, but the visiting fighter on this occasion will be no stranger to the atmosphere having entered the lion’s den many times before.
Martinez (27-3, 19 KOs) is a true champion of Europe having fought and won all over the continent and is undefeated on five trips to the Emerald Isle. He broke Irish hearts in Dublin when he stopped then unbeaten Bernard Dunne inside a round in 2007 and has set his sights on repeating that feat north of the border, by knocking out the Ulsterman Frampton this weekend.
Both men have real firepower at the weight and both men come to fight, whilst neither man has tasted the canvas in their professional career. Martinez’s three losses were all by competitive decision, twice to Rendall Munroe and once to South African Takalani Ndlovu at altitude in Johannesburg.
Under the guidance of Irish featherweight hero Barry McGuigan and his trainer son Shane, Frampton has looked the real deal thus far in the paid ranks after a shining amateur career. He’s been looking better as he’s stepped up in levels and has shown a variety of aspects to his game. A tidy boxer-puncher with fast hands and a hurtful dig to the body, he’s ultimately a natural, versatile fighter.
Those looking for holes in his armoury might say he struggles to permeate the most watertight defences and it’s a fair argument that his chin is yet to be tested by a puncher of Martinez’s calibre. That said he’s yet to be hurt and coming forward clearly has confidence in his ability to take a punch. Then again, so does Martinez. This could become a real war.
Kiko is a wily, experienced campaigner who has a tight defence and Frampton could get frustrated, finding him difficult to hit if he tries to blast him out of there with ten-thousand drunken Irishman baying for Spanish blood. Carl can box clever though and that might be the best tactic to employ. It’s a tough fight and any win over Martinez will look good on the resumé, he hasn’t got to score a knockout.
