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Carl Frampton announced his arrival onto the world stage at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast, Northern Ireland on Saturday night when he scored a stunning ninth round knockout of Spaniard Kiko Martinez to claim the European bantamweight title
Frampton was expecting to face the toughest test of his short unbeaten career and that?s exactly what he experienced against the three time champion and he passed the test with flying colors.
The bout was tough while it lasted but when Martinez, who himself is a massive puncher, walked onto a short right hand to the head he fell to the canvas. Martinez tried desperately claim his footing but he was swaying around like a small tree in the wind and fight was stopped after 2.46 of the ninth round
As expected against a puncher like Martinez, Frampton started the bout working on the outside to prevent the Spaniard from working up close and and preventing him from unloading his bombs.
Those tactics worked for a while and Frampton did land the quality shots but Martinez did manage to land heavy left hook to test Frampton?s chin.
Frampton began the third round on the back foot as Martinez marched forward in a bid to engage in a war but Frampton?s tactics were clear, stay out of range until a opportunity presented itself and that?s exactly what he did. Martinez had his successes with several heavy shots that forced Frampton?s head back but the Irishman always came back with a quality return and that?s exactly what happened when he finished off Martinez in the ninth round to register the best win of his unbeaten 16 fight career. Martinez ended the fight with a swollen left eye.
Speaking to Sky Sports after the fight Frampton said: “I told him I?d out-box him at the start and out-fight him at the end, I went in with one of the hardest punchers in the division and I could take them all day.
“It feels amazing. I want to thank everyone for coming out here. I want the whole of Belfast to be proud of me. I want to be the world champion and I?m well on the way.”
