Kiko Martinez scores sensational sixth-round KO over Kid Galahad, becomes two-weight world champ
Every little thing was going completely for Child Galahad on the Sheffield Area in Sheffield, England… till it wasn’t.
After he’d hit Kiko Martinez with all the pieces however the kitchen sink – after he’d schooled his opponent by means of 4 full rounds – the Spanish veteran floored him with an enormous proper late within the fifth spherical and closed out early within the sixth with the identical shot to say the IBF featherweight title in sensational vogue. The official time was 0:06.
“It could be a shock for everybody else however not for me,” stated an elated Martinez (43-10-2, 20 KOs) throughout his post-fight interview with DAZN. “For the final three years I’ve been dwelling like a monk. I’ve had no holidays, no time with my household, no days off, I’ve been working twelve months a 12 months.”
It’s been a very long time since this reporter has seen something prefer it.
Galahad shook Martinez with a pointy left hand within the first spherical and had a area day. The Sheffield star would lace the goal with punches from both stance, then find the exits with ease. Martinez appeared a lot slower and struggled to land a punch of significance.
The customer was lower over the proper eye within the third and as his desperation to land one thing massive elevated he turned increasingly obtainable to the counter. That was blood to a shark for Galahad who continued to make his opponent pay.
The defending titleholder boxed fantastically at occasions, switching effortlessly from physique to move and mixing up the ability on his punches. This fluid offense was made much more efficient by fast toes, agility, very good reflexes and ring craft.
Bang – sport changer, banana peel, tear up the script.
It’s unattainable to overstate how massive a victory this was for the 35-year-old Martinez. The battle hardened warrior from Spain has misplaced struggle after struggle on the world degree, going all the way in which again to his first loss to Carl Frampton in 2013. It appeared that very time he salvaged a little bit of momentum an elite participant would carry him crashing again right down to earth: Frampton (UD 12), Scott Quigg (TKO 2), Leo Santa Cruz (TKO 5) and Gary Russell Jr. (TKO 5).
Nicely, the discuss now could be that this two-weight world champion – Martinez as soon as held the IBF 122-pound title – is the best Spanish fighter of all time.
Galahad (28-2-1, 17 KOs) is an excellent expertise that left himself open for a bomb, however the true check will likely be how he responds to such an explosive and sudden defeat. Rumors abound that he struggled mightily to make the 130-pound restrict, so powerful choices might lie forward.
However this night time belongs to Kiko Martinez. It was a completely astonishing comeback each by way of reversing the motion within the struggle itself and in resurrecting a profession.
Speechless!
Tom Grey is Managing Editor for Ring Journal. Comply with him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing
