Carl Frampton’s hopes of securing a shot at IBF World champion Kiko Martinez appear some way off after the Spaniard distanced himself with a rematch against the Northern Irishman. Despite earning an impressive KO victory against Martinez in early 2013 in Belfast, it was the Spanish super bantamweight who went on to win a world title last year, upsetting the boxing odds by ripping the belt from Jhonathan Romero in Atlantic City in August.
Martinez defended his belt against Jeffrey Mathebula just before Christmas with Frampton and WBA World champion Scott Quigg ringside, with both fighters looking to line-up a clash against the Spaniard for some time later this year. While Frampton had hoped his previous victory against Martinez would see him given precedence over the likes of Quigg, it looks as though the Englishman could be in line to meet Martinez is a unification fight for the IBF and WBA straps.
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“Quigg is a champion, Frampton isn’t a champion of anything and he has to accept the consequences. He’ll have to wait. I’d like to now fight Quigg before I fight Frampton, but these are things my promoter will sort out,” Martinez revealed.
“I didn’t have any words with Carl Frampton. I thank him for coming to Spain to see me. I know we’ll meet again sooner or later, but it was my night, he came to enjoy the show so there was nothing more to it.”
With a fight against Martinez now looking like something Frampton and boxing betting fans will have to wait for, the Northern Irishman could be set to face WBC champion Leo Santa Cruz. The unbeaten Mexican has made it known that he would be interested in fighting Frampton in 2014, which would be a challenge the Belfast-fighter would go into as a firm underdog.
