Kiko Martinez to defend Super Bantam crown against Frampton in rematch

According to Dan Rafael of espn.com, IBF Jr. Featherweight champion Kiko Martinez will take on Carl Frampton in a rematch on September 6 in Northern Ireland.

“I’m over the moon to be fighting for a world title in my home [country],” Frampton said. “I have to thank my team for making this happen and now it is time for me to deliver. I am fully focused on Sept. 6 and Kiko Martinez. It’s been my dream since I started boxing to become a world champion and I have worked so hard to get this far. Now is the time for me to fulfill that dream in front of the best fans in the world.”

“Carl has proven time and again that he deserves to be a world champion and now he will get his chance to become one, in the best circumstances possible, without any options on his future and in front of his devoted home fans,” said Cyclone Promotions chief executive Barry McGuigan, the Hall of Fame former featherweight champion. “Cyclone Promotions have worked tirelessly over the past couple of months to secure this fight and we are overjoyed for Carl. We are in discussions with a number of venues and we will announce the venue of the fight shortly.”

“Since [the first fight], when I get up at five in the morning to go training, I remember him. For me, to defeat him is a greater motivation than the chance to unify the belts,” Martinez said. “I will never forget that night and I will prove that it was just a bad day for me. I am world champion now and my legacy will be bigger for facing Carl Frampton.”

Sampson Lewkowicz, Martinez’s adviser, said his man would gain revenge. “Yes, he lost the first fight, but he had promotion and managerial problems and was totally underpaid for that fight,” Lewkowicz said. “Mentally he was not in the best condition. It’s totally different now. He will knock him out.”