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Martinez: Frampton has gone backwards the best fighter he fought was me and I wasn’t near my best

HE holds a knock out win over reigning World champion, but according to Kiko Martinez Carl Frampton has yet to face a note worthy opponent.

It might seem a bizarre statement considering that now World champion is Martinez himself and the only man to stop the Spaniard is Frampton.

However, the reigning IBF super bantamweight champion of the World, who defends his title against Frampton in Belfast on September 6 claims the Kiko Martinez on display in the Odyssey Arena on February of last year is a different fighter to the one that went on to win the World title and defend it twice- wining every fight since via knock out.

The former Bernard Dunne foe is adamant he wasn’t right for that European title fight and that he has since improved and stressed a belief Frampton has gone backwards.

“I think they’ve been looking after him very well, the only hard fight he has had in his career was against me and I had been out of the ring for nine months,” he told Boxingscene.

“He’s had good opponents but not top level. Frampton is a good boxer and too good of a warrior to have some of these lesser fights. It’s not good for him.

“He’s gone backwards, not forward, his boxing hasn’t change.

“He can get better physically but he’s not fighting away from home against top level and he won’t advance this way. I am looking forward to coming to Belfast and defending my title,” he added.

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Integral part of the Irish boxing community for over 13 years

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