Former Frampton foe Kiko Martinez retains IBF title in Japan
FORMER Carl Frampton target Kiko Martinez retained his IBF super bantamweight title in Japan last night.
The Spaniard, who Frampton stopped to claim the European title, made a second successful defence of the strap Cyclone Promotions offered him his biggest ever pay day to defend in Belfast.
Martinez , who has significant Irish previous having beaten Bernard Dunne in 86 seconds and fighting in the Island on no fewer than five occasions, stopped former two weight world champion Hozumi Hasegawa 1:20 into round seven.
Frampton has gone the WBC and secured Leo Santa Cruz pole. Indeed he hopes to fight the Mexican in the summer, but if Martinez was willing to rematch with ‘The Jackal’ his team would certainly explore the option.
