From the Belfast community of Tiger’s Bay, an uprising began to gain momentum. First across Ulster, then over the Irish Sea, soon the whole of Britain sat up and took note. Over the course of several years, support increased behind a new movement from Northern Ireland. Then, on Saturday February 9th, ‘The Jackal’ took over Europe.
Carl Frampton scored a stunning stoppage of European super bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez, in front of an electric atmosphere the Odyssey Arena in his hometown of Belfast.
A superstar was not born, but validated on a special night for British boxing and Northern Ireland in particular. The likes of the growing support for Frampton has not been seen since the early career of his mentor Barry McGuigan three decades ago. Their attention now turns to the world stage after the impressive breakout victory.
Frampton did not have it all his own way during his European coronation however. He had to endure nine rounds of relentless pressure from the aggressive Martinez, before a hard right hand dropped the Spaniard for the first time in his career and relieved him of his EBU super bantamweight title.
Backed into a corner with fourteen seconds remaining in the ninth session, the ‘Jackal’ delivered the short right with Martinez walking in to transfigure his opponent’s legs into jelly. .
Kiko the warrior attempted to get up but was back on his feet a little too quickly and after staggering into the ropes, referee Anssi Perajoki called a halt to the contest.
A contest it certainly was though and early in the fight it became clear that Frampton was in deeper than he ever had been before. Martinez had given the cut-throat gestures at the fiery weigh-in and reminded the Northern Irishman of his power in the second round, landing with hurtful shots when Frampton infrequently fought in close. However, the unbeaten challenger kept his head above water by boxing on the back foot, retreating as Martinez bombed forward with menacing pressure.
Jack Sumner
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