Casey and Frampton target Martinez retains European title

By Jonny Stapleton

Carl Frampton and Willie Casey’s European title hopes received a boost as Kiko Martinez retained his super bantamweight continental crown in France.

The Spaniard, who had Brian Magee’s trainer Bernardo Checa, knocked out Arsen Martirosyan in the 12th round  Lyon on Friday night. The three time European belt holder can make a voluntary defence in the summer and has expressed his desire to fight Frampton.  ( See interview here http://www.irish-boxing.com/2012/02/kiko-martinez-will-offer-frampton-euro-shot/).

The Jackal has said he wants to fight Martinez, Scott Quig or Rendell Munroe in a summer Belfast homecoming (see here http://www.irish-boxing.com/2012/03/frampton-targets-quigg-martinez-and-munroe-in-2012/).

A Martinez fight seems the easiest to make, as both parties want it. Not to mention the former Bernard Dunne conqueror is now managed by Belfast promoter Pat Magee.

If Frampton Martinez can’t be made ‘Big Bang’ has expressed his desire to fight the Alicante native he was once scheduled to face.