By Edward Chaykovsky
Super bantamweight Carl Frampton (18-0, 13KOs) is planning for a smart fight when he faces IBF champion Kiko Martinez (31-4, 23KOs) on September 6th at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast.
The fight is a rematch of their February 2013 encounter, which Frampton won by knockout in the ninth round. Martinez came back with a bang, winning his next four fights by knockout - including stoppage wins over former champions Hozumi Hasegawa of Japan, Jeffrey Mathebula of South Africa and Jhonatan Romero.
Frampton is not focused on the fact that he knocked out Martinez in the first bout. He knows the rematch is a totally different ballgame.
“Just because I knocked Kiko out in the first fight, some people think this is a formality and I just have to turn up. That’s absolutely crazy, this is boxing and anything can happen to you. One good shot and your night is over. But equally, I know I’m a smarter fighter, if I listen carefully and execute our game plan, I have full confidence that I will win this fight,” Frampton told The Irish Times.
