Undefeated British Super Bantamweight Carl Frampton (18-0, 13 KOs) faces Spaniard Kiko Martinez for his IBF title this Saturday, (September 6, 2014) in Belfast, Northern Ireland. Despite Martinez being a champion who will be making his 3rd title defense, he is a big underdog (+425). Frampton, the hometown favorite, is sitting as a solid (-550) favorite. Martinez is 31-4 overall, with 23 KOs, and his last loss came in February of 2013, to Carl Frampton in Belfast. In that match, Frampton stopped Martinez in the 9th round to take the European Super Bantamweight title. Despite Frampton’s strong performance, it was Martinez who would fight for a world title in August of that year, as he faced and beat undefeated Jhonathan Romero (23-0) to take the belt in Atlantic City, New Jersey. Martinez defended the belt at home in Spain and then again on the road, so he is hoping that experience of success in hostile territory will carry over to this re-match with Frampton. He has been working hard, and he looked strong in his last outing when he finished longtime WBC Bantamweight champion Hozumi Hasegawa in Japan. For Frampton though, who is fighting at home and is enjoying being such a wide favorite, this fight has the feeling of a coronation. Trained and mentored by former world champion Barry McGuigan, Frampton has had high expectations around him for a long time, and he has been following in the footsteps of his mentor in terms of career path. McGuigan used his popularity at home to lure a world champion to his country with a big offer and he made the most of the opportunity. McGuigan dropped the belt in his first and only fight outside of England, and should Frampton win this fight and get the belt, he will face the same questions. Martinez also has some guidance and an example to follow, and that is Spanish resident Sergio ´Maravilla’ Martinez. Despite the Argentine born fighters recent loss to Miguel Cotto and his potential retirement, his time at the top of the boxing world coincides with Kiko Martinez´ improvement, and there is no doubt that the overall level of boxing has been going up in Spain. It is in fact Martinez´ much harder road since their first encounter that have both him and the Spanish press expressing confidence in his chances to hand Frampton his first defeat. One item to keep an eye on is the over/under, as Several Bookmakers will post that a little closer to fight time. The immediate history around both fighters hints at a fight that will be decided inside the distance, as Frampton left no doubt the first time with his stoppage in the 9th, and Martinez has gone out and won every fight since that meeting inside the distance.
