Heavy-handed strain fighter Kiko Martinez at all times seemed to problem himself and loved a extremely productive profession, profitable world titles at junior featherweight and featherweight.
Martinez, who was considered one of 5 youngsters, was born in Elche, Spain on March 7, 1986. His beginning identify is Francisco Martinez Sanchez.
“I had a standard upbringing, my dad and mom labored so much and we spent lots of time on the streets as they’d a bar and arcades,” Martinez advised The Ring by means of Oscar Zardain. “However we at all times lived properly and by no means lacked for something. A working however regular middle-class household.”
As a teen Martinez performed soccer, which could be very common in his nation, in contrast to boxing. Nevertheless, he discovered the game as a young person and didn’t look again.
“After I was 13-years-old, I began boxing to be taught to defend myself, as a result of I’m small and the boys used to select on me,” he defined. “I fell in love with boxing from that second on.”
Martinez gained regional and nationwide titles and loved his time as an newbie, going 39-1, earlier than deciding to show skilled at 18, the place he was paid € 460 [just shy of $500], in June 2004.
He gained his first 16 fights at house earlier than travelling to Eire the place he scored a surprising first spherical knockout over hometown favourite Bernard Dunne to assert the European junior featherweight title in the summertime of 2007.
“I keep in mind it was an ideal night time for me,” he stated. “From then on, massive doorways opened for me and I proved to everybody and to myself that it was attainable to turn into world champion.”
Over the subsequent couple of years, Martinez grew in expertise and have become a mainstay on the European circuit.
Kiko Martinez (left) – Picture courtesy of Maravilla Promotions
Though he misplaced twice to Rendall Munroe (MD 12/ UD 12) within the U.Ok. and Takalani Ndlovu (UD 12) in South Africa in an IBF title eliminator, he did regain his outdated EBU title twice, beating Arsen Martirosyan (UD 12) in Eire after which in opposition to Jason Sales space (TKO 10) at house in Spain earlier than being stopped by rising pressure and future two-weight world champion Carl Frampton (TKO 9).
“It’s one thing I’m very pleased with,” he stated of being European champion. “Being European champion and defending the belt was basic in my coaching. I at all times inform all of the (new) guys that being a European champion needs to be a compulsory step in any profession, because it was up to now.”
After returning to the win column, Martinez was provided a battle with IBF junior featherweight title Jonathan Romero in Atlantic Metropolis in August 2013. Regardless of being a 4.5/1 underdog, Martinez proved too sturdy for the Colombian and stopped him within the sixth spherical.
“I keep in mind it as a very powerful day of my profession and the happiest,” he recalled. “It was the proper dream, in the US, in opposition to an undefeated champion, televised by HBO – It was merely good!
“I used to be three-time European champion, however I didn’t win some huge cash. All my profession until the [world] championship I needed to work, giving boxing classes, or at my father’s bar as a waiter and at a development web site, all whereas I used to be coaching.
“The celebration was organized by my buddies within the central sq. of my metropolis. I’ve fond recollections of that day.”
Martinez thrilled his followers with a hometown protection in opposition to former IBF titlist Jeffrey Mathebula (KO 9). He then headed to Osaka, Japan the place he impressively beat former long-reigning bantamweight beltholder Hozumi Hasegawa (TKO 7).
“I think about that I used to be a worthy champion and that, like all my profession, I’ve at all times wished to battle in opposition to the perfect and the place they gave me the perfect purses,” he stated of his championship tenure. “They handled me very properly after I beat Hasegawa. I believe that was the perfect win of my profession, or at the very least one of many three greatest wins of my profession. The Japanese public could be very well mannered and respectful. Preventing in Japan was considered one of my desires. Preventing there in opposition to a legend like Hozumi and profitable the battle was superior.
Subsequent up, got here a rematch with Frampton in Belfast, Northern Eire, the place he was outpointed by 12-round unanimous choice: “Frampton was the perfect in Europe, he had crushed me earlier than and we needed to have that rematch.”
Though Martinez suffered defeats by the hands of Scott Quigg (TKO 2), which prompted a transfer as much as featherweight the place he misplaced an in depth battle to future world champion Josh Warrington (MD 12) and later in world title fights in opposition to WBA titlist Leo Santa Cruz (TKO 5) and WBC ruler Gary Russell Jr. (TKO 5), he by no means let it get him down.
“All of them had been very robust, high-level fights,” he stated. “They gave me lots of expertise and excellent purses. In the long run, regardless of dropping, you at all times take the constructive aspect.”
Martinez finishes Child Galahad in devastating fashion. Picture by Matthew Pover/ Matchroom Boxing
Martinez is nothing if not persistent, and after he seemed to be unfortunate dropping a extremely contentious 12-round unanimous choice to Zelfa Barrett, he discovered himself within the challenger’s nook in opposition to IBF featherweight titleholder Child Galahad in Sheffield, England, in November 2021.
It seemed like an train in futility for the opening 4 rounds, after which Martinez discovered a battle altering proper hand that dropped the defending champion closely on the of Spherical 5. Though the defending champion was in a position to make it to his toes and was saved by the bell. It was a keep of execution he minutes relaxation wasn’t sufficient and Galahad was rapidly stopped within the sixth-round.
“For me it was one thing unbelievable, as a result of it was one thing nearly sudden and at 35-years-old,” stated Martinez, who was a 7/1 underdog and later gained The Ring’s 2021 Comeback of The Yr award. “To have the chance to attempt to be champion at one other weight, after so a few years combating to get it, was great. I celebrated much more than the primary time.
“It was a lesson for all times, I used to be in a position to present everybody that, should you preserve combating and making an attempt exhausting, irrespective of what number of occasions you fall, in the long run you’ll get your reward.”
The Spaniard misplaced his title in his first protection to outdated rival Josh Warrington in a foul-filled contest.
“I believe my final battle in opposition to Josh Warrington wasn’t honest, he used his head a number of occasions and he wasn’t penalized at any level,” stated Martinez, who was stopped in seven-rounds. “It harm me so much to lose like that.
“Everybody may see it. No one warned me that I used to be going to face two folks that night time. I used to be alone throughout the entire battle, no one knew the best way to react in time. My nook lacked expertise and the physician lacked skilled ethics. As for the referee, properly, it’s not price saying something, everybody may see what occurred and the way he acted.”
Martinez wasn’t completed and he regained his outdated European title by impressively showcasing his vaunted energy stopping Jordan Gill in 4 rounds. That led to him heading to Japan to face Reiya Abe in an IBF eliminator. It proved a bridge too far and he dropped a 12-round unanimous choice.
The veteran globetrotter, who have to be thought of amongst the perfect Spanish fighters of all time, determined to convey the curtain down on his profession retire from boxing in August 2023.
“I’ve been very fortunate, I’ve had a tough however stunning profession,” stated Martinez (44-12-2, 31 knockouts). “I don’t owe something to anybody besides my household and my crew, in the long run I’ve achieved greater than I ever dreamed of.”
Martinez, now 38, is married, has two daughters and lives in Torrellano, a small rural village close to Elche.
“My life will proceed to be linked to boxing,” he stated. “I need to proceed as a coach, instructing the youngsters and guiding them in order that they don’t make all of the errors I made after I was younger.”
He graciously took time to talk to The Ring about the perfect he fought in 10 key classes.
BEST JAB
Leo Santa Cruz: “He has a giant wingspan and his jab could be very annoying, it was correct and exact. It was tough to get near him to hit him.”
BEST DEFENSE
Carl Frampton: “It was tough to land a punch on him due to his ability and leg actions. Additionally Gary Russell Jr.”
BEST FOOTWORK
Frampton: “He was very exact in his actions; he by no means took a flawed step.”
BEST HANDSPEED
Gary Russell Jr.: “He has the pace of sunshine. His punches had been too fast for my reflexes.”
SMARTEST
Leo Santa Cruz: “I managed to harm him and he was in a position to adapt and alter his combating technique. To me, that makes him smarter than the remaining.”
STRONGEST
Frampton: “Wonderful bodily situation. He wouldn’t again down from my onslaught, which is why the primary battle was so extraordinarily exhausting and we each ended up damaged.”
BEST PUNCHER
Frampton: “He’s sturdy typically, his complete physique, however he’s additionally an ideal boxer, so his approach collectively together with his power made him a really harmful man.”
BEST CHIN
Scott Quigg: “I punched him exhausting within the first spherical, with all my energy, and he resisted very properly. Lots of my opponents went to the bottom with half the ability that I managed to attach with Quigg.”
BEST BOXING SKILLS
Russell Jr.: “Every part he did, he did properly, and I couldn’t join with him like I’d have appreciated to in the entire battle. Pace is what hurts you and I couldn’t see his punches. I believe simply when the battle was stopped due to the minimize he began to decelerate a bit, however till the third spherical it was unattainable for me to see his arms. I acknowledge that he was two steps above me that night time.”
BEST OVERALL
Russell Jr.: “Full fighter: Quick, heavy puncher, untouchable. With Russell I simply didn’t stand an opportunity.”
Questions and/or feedback will be despatched to Anson at [email protected].
