Roman Martinez, the World Boxing Organisation super featherweight champion has predicted that he will stop Ricky Burns,his Coatbridge challenger, in the eighth round of their title fight at the Kelvin Hallo on Saturday night.
The champion is 9/2 favourite to make a third defence of his title with several bookmakers. Yet with the Martinez camp already having pencilled in the next defence on the undercard of the Manny Pacquiao v Antonio Margarito fight at the Cowboys Stadium in Texas on on November 13, there is a suggestion the Puerto Rican has underestimated both Burns? durability and superior hand speed.
?I have worked very hard in the gym to make sure I am in the sort of condition to knock Ricky Burns out. I believe I will do that in the eighth round,? said Martinez.
?I know Burns is a world-class fighter; he is my mandatory challenger and I respect him for that but I do not see this fight going the distance. I have not underestimated him,? added the champion.
Martinez has never been knocked down in a unbeaten 25-fight career that includes 15 wins by knockout. In contrast, Burns was floored twice by Carl Johanneson when he lost a British title fight in February 2007 on points. I have worked very hard in the gym to make sure I am in the sort of condition to knock Ricky Burns out. I believe I will do that in the eighth round. Roman Martinez
The challenger bridled at suggestions he may be in for an early night. ?I?ve never been stopped, never been knocked out, never been in any real bother and I don?t see that happening on Saturday,? he said. ?We have been working on a few things in the gym. I?ve been in with big punchers before and showed I can take a good shot. Whatever happens on Saturday, I am ready for it.?
The original meeting with Martinez had been planned for the champion?s homeland last year but was cancelled on more than one occasion after rows about purse bids.
Burns, though, dismissed suggestions that, having fought just once in 14 months on the run-up to the biggest night of his career, ring-rust maybe a problem. ?Although I?ve had just one fight in a year, it is not a problem. I have been in constant training for Martinez as the fight was supposed to happen in Puerto Rico and kept being called off.
?You could say that I am better prepared for Martinez than I would have been had the fight gone ahead on its original date last year.?
In the chief supporting bout, Greenock?s John Simpson will defend his Commonwealth featherweight title against Englishman Stephen Smith in a fight which is also the final eliminator for the British title. With both boxers being big hitters, an early finish seems more than likely.
Simpson said: ?I respect Stephen Smith and everything he has achieved. But I believe I am coming into my peak years and to get to the big fights I need, I must take care of him. Saturday night can?t come quickly enough.?
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