Quigg obliterates Martinez; Perez-Crolla ends in draw

Scott Quigg v Kiko Martinez

Regular WBA World bantamweight champion Scott Quigg, 31-0-2 (23KO’s), laid down a marker the size of the Manchester Arena tonight blasting former World super bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez, 32-6 (24KO’s) to pieces inside two rounds, in front of a packed hometown crowd.

Midway through the 2nd round, Quigg took absolutely everything from his Spanish opponent – who seemed to be warming to the task after an encouraging opener – with an enormous right uppercut that dipped his legs and left him laid on the canvas moments later following a further assault from the vicious champion.

Regular WBA World super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg, 30-0-2 (22KO’s), returns to the ring this evening after 8 months out of action to face former IBF World super-bantamweight ruler Kiko Martinez, 32-5 (24KO’s), sharing top billing with gym mate and friend Anthony Crolla.

It’s been a frustrating wait for the self-confessed gym rat, after surgery to rectify tendon tears to his middle and index knuckles on his right hand, alongside the high profile bundling that was the Carl Frampton negotiations forcing a hiatus that has the Bury man chomping at the bit.

In the 29-year old Spaniard, Quigg has been presented with the perfect return opponent. Martinez is respected, at the tail end of his world-class career without being washed up and a useful bargaining chip in any future Frampton talks, should Quigg dispatch of him in empathic fashion.

"High Stakes" For Scott Quigg Against Kiko Martinez On Saturday

WBA (reg) super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg knows he will be in for the fight of his life on Saturday night against former IBF 122 lb boss Kiko Martinez in Manchester, topping the Matchroom Sport double world title “High Stakes” card alongside stablemate Anthony Crolla, who challenges for the WBA 135 lb title against Colombian Darleys Perez.

The Joe Gallagher trained Quigg is under no illusions that he will need a career best performance in front of the partisan Manchester crowd, as Spaniard Martinez is a seasoned road warrior, more than used to boxing – and winning – away from home.

Kiko Martinez Confident Of Beating Scott Quigg

Spain’s former IBF super bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez fights WBA (reg) 122 lb champion Scott Quigg in Manchester on Saturday night, headlining Matchroom’s ‘High Stakes’ card, and ‘La Sensacion’ is feeling in a confident mood, telling Sky Sports that not only does he have the beating of Quigg, he believes Northern Ireland’s Carl Frampton has his number too.

Quigg and Frampton are on an eventual collision course, with negotiations between them having broken down recently, and Martinez, who lost to Frampton twice, thinks that’s probably a good thing for Quigg, who he cannot see beating the Irishman.

Scott Quigg Ready For Kiko Martinez / Focused On His Own Path

On July 18th in Manchester, WBA (reg) super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg tops the bill when he defends his title against Spain’s Kiko Martinez, in what is sure to be a fight that will draw comparisons to that of IBF 122 lb champ Carl Frampton – and his own performances against the Spanish fighter.

The Northern Irishman took Martinez’s world title last September, having previously stopped him in the 9th to win the EBU belt the year before – and with negotiations between Quigg and Frampton for a UK super fight breaking down recently – all eyes will be on how the Bury man performs in anticipation of a possible future showdown with his Tiger’s Bay rival.

Scott Quigg To Fight Kiko Martinez - July 18th

WBA (reg) 122lb champion Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22ko) has once again dodged the Guillermo Rigondeaux bullet with the announcement that he will defend his title on July 18th in Manchester against Spain’s Kiko Martinez. (32-5, 24ko)

After negotiations for a massive unification clash with Belfast’s IBF champion Carl Frampton falling through recently, it would seem Eddie Hearn has turned to Martinez for comparative purposes.

The former world and European champion has been twice beaten by Frampton in the past – in February 2013 when he was stopped (for the only time in his career) and again last September when he surrendered his belt via 12 round decision.

There is not an opinion in the world of boxing I value more than that of Barry McGuigan. I feel that’s an opinion shared by most, if not all boxing fans the world over. And, when it comes to Carl Frampton the legendary Clones Cyclone is convinced.

Of course McGuigan is entrenched in the Frampton camp, with managerial and promotional responsibilities, alongside his mentoring capacity. So, it would be easy, or lazy, to deduce that McGuigan is biased and more likely to push the credentials of a fighter, whom he would use for financial gain. You know, like a normal manager or promoter?

But, I think that’s what makes Frampton and his team special, this is not a financial endeavour, this is much, much more than that. This is about McGuigan and his son Shane, Frampton’s excellent trainer, facilitating a special individual in his attempts to replicate and even surpass his exploits and bring genuine big time boxing back to Ireland and with it, a unity not seen since the heyday of you know who.

Frampton will beat Kiko Martinez, says Santa Cruz

WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz has no doubts in his mind that unbeaten #2 IBF Carl Frampton (18-0, 13 KOs) will come out on top in his title challenge against IBF 122 pound champion Kiko Martinez (31-4, 23 KOs) in their rematch next month on September 6th at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

It’s actually not that hard for Santa Cruz to pick Frampton as the winner in this fight, because Frampton stopped Martinez in the 9th round in their fight last year in February. It’s not that Frampton can punch any harder than Martinez can. It’s more of a case that he’s able to take advantage of the way that Martinez leaves himself open when he’s attacking his opponents.

Quigg obliterates Martinez; Perez-Crolla ends in draw

High Stakes – Manchester 18/07/15 – Quigg V Martinez Preview

“High Stakes” For Scott Quigg Against Kiko Martinez On Saturday

Kiko Martinez Confident Of Beating Scott Quigg

Scott Quigg Ready For Kiko Martinez / Focused On His Own Path

Scott Quigg To Fight Kiko Martinez – July 18th

Frampton vs Martinez This Saturday

Frampton will beat Kiko Martinez, says Santa Cruz