The eagerly anticipated rematch between IBF super-bantamweight champion Kiko Martínez and Belfast’s sporting icon Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton is now just two days away. ‘TITANIC SHOWDOWN’ will take place at a purpose built outdoor arena in Belfast’s historic Titanic Quarter and is undoubtedly the biggest boxing event that Northern Ireland has ever seen.
Frampton is now within touching distance of realising a lifelong dream as he bids to lift the world title on Saturday and in doing so embed himself in his home city’s sporting folklore.
The Tiger’s Bay native has captured the imagination of the boxing mad Belfast public who will turn out in their thousands on Saturday evening to cheer on their hero. The unique Titanic Quarter outdoor venue, set on the historic Titanic Slipways where the World famous ship was launched over a century ago, is a near sell-out, a mightily impressive feat by the 27-year-old Frampton given the temporary structure’s 16,000 capacity.
“This has been my motivation since I got into competitive boxing as a kid,” said Frampton. “To fight for a world title at home in front of the best fans in the world is unbelievable. I can’t wait for Saturday night. Kiko Martínez is a very good fighter but I am better, I beat him before and I will beat him again. He’s very confident and is a respected world champion but on Saturday night I will do what I have trained so hard for, I will win the world title. He says he has learnt from the first fight but so have I. I’m a much better fighter than I was the first time we boxed and I will prove that on Saturday night.”
The well-versed Belfast boxing public understand that Saturday’s rematch represents a whole new challenge as Martínez has himself seemingly improved since the pair’s enthralling first encounter. Frampton must impose his impressive skillset on a highly motivated champion who has come to Belfast hell-bent on taking his revenge on his talented challenger.
Martínez has retained a sense of self-assured calm throughout this week’s hectic big fight media schedule but the Spanish champion’s wild side seems as though it could appear at any given moment, making the build up to this world title fight all the more intriguing.
“I do not see the first fight as a negative, in fact I see it more as a positive and what is the past will always be the past. I have learnt from that fight and I am now focused on Saturday night and the future and taking that belt home with me,” said a determined Martínez.
The eyes of the boxing world will be focused on this famous fight city as the talented Frampton closes in on his place in history.
“It’s here and I’m 100 per cent ready. It’s my time and I’m going to win this world title for Belfast, the greatest boxing city in the world.”
BoxNation, channel 437, will broadcast all the action live.
