Sport » Boxing
KIKO TO FIGHT FOR WORLD TITLE
Contributor / 2009-06-06 10:07:38
Despite losing his European crown last year and then and suffering a second defeat in February at the hands of Leicester´s Rendall Munroe, Daya Nueva's Kiko Martinez still sits at number 7 in the International Boxing Federation World rankings.
Following his recent points win over Isaac Nettey that added the Commonwealth super-bantamweight title to the European belt he already held Munroe looked set to be matched with Takalani Ndlovu in an eliminator for the world title, but it is understood the South African has pulled out. It is now believed the IBF may instead pair the boxing binman with Kiko.
Munroe has twice outpointed the Spaniard but they are the only defeats on Martinez's record which he is now even more determined to overturn.
The title is currently held by Celestino Caballero, the gangling puncher from Panama who is regarded as the world's No.1 at the weight but it is believed that Caballero is moving up to featherweight to face unbeaten WBA interim champion Yuriorkis Gamboa and that would mean he would give up the IBF title at 8st 10lb.
As such Kiko could possibly face Munroe for the vacant belt if Caballero does decide to step up to the 9st division.
Meanwhile Martinez continues to look impressive during sparring at the Dava Nueva gym run by his trainer and long time mentor Alberto Gonzalez. When I caught up with the pair last week I was also fortunate to meet up with 17 year old British protégé Alfie Patrick who continues to make progress despite a lack of fights. Father Martin, himself a former British Light Middleweight Champion, plans to take the youngster back to London in two weeks time where he will be fighting on an amateur card that is being organised at Hoddesden Boxing Club. However, on hearing that a fight night has also been scheduled at the Sports Palace in Torrevieja over the same weekend those plans might now be scuppered. Alberto is also keen to see the youngster on the evening’s card which will be headlined, I understand, by local favourite and Valencian light welterweight Champion Armando Candel. One thing that you are sure of whenever Armando takes to the ring is value for money. I have never seen anything but 110% effort from Spain’s number 7 and I have seen him fight on at least half a dozen occasions. I have no reason to doubt that his fight in Torrevieja on the 19th will be anything other than a very good scrap.
Other local news, it comes to us all I’m afraid, is the retirement of the popular Torrevieja based Russian Super middleweight Sergey Kharchenko. Al the age of 27 with 15 wins from his 29 professional fights El Gladiador was another boxer who always gave the crowds value for money. Kharchenko has not boxed since being knocked out by Piotr Wilczewski in Poland last year when he fought for the TWBA super middleweight title. He announced to the Leader just last week that he felt it was now time to hang up his gloves. Better news from the same camp this week with the announcement that 22 year old Cruiserweight Ricky Pow has now confirmed that he will be making his professional debut in Torrevieja in October. Alberto Gonzalez tells me that he is about to confirm a date with the Ayuntamiento for the use of the Sports Palace after which he will start looking in earnest for an opponent.
Tags: Kiko Martinez, Armando Candel, Boxing
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