That was the pattern of events throughout many rounds of what was proving to be an entertaining scrap, with Frampton looking flustered at times as Martinez continued to stalk. He was landing more punches and the cleaner punches, but the harder shots were coming back from the champion. As the fighters trudged back to their corners at the end of three closely contested minutes though, Frampton was doing enough to win the rounds.
"His previously untested chin was standing up to the Spaniard’s best power shots"
His previously untested chin was standing up to the Spaniard’s best power shots and as the fight progressed Kiko was becoming more ragged, missing as Frampton’s movement made him an elusive target. A cut had opened under Martinez’s eye in the fourth and Frampton’s carefully picked shots continued to land, giving his opponent’s corner men plenty to do between the rounds and forcing Martinez to dig deep.
He kept coming though and forced Frampton to stand and trade in the eighth but by now it was becoming clear that his best punches weren’t leaving much of an impression. Martinez (27-4, 19 KOs), renowned for a solid chin himself, resisted some heavy shots at the start of the ninth round. That resistance would be broken however when he collided with the straight right that put him down.
Frampton (16-0, 11 KOs) could be one fight away from landing a world title shot with the IBF. Though across the channel, a rival from the North West of England is steadily gathering pace. Scott Quigg has world title ambitions of his own and he and Frampton are on a collision course. If British fans have their way, the two will meet this year, before they run into the global rulers at 122lbs.
Carl Frampton lights up the Odyssey
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