By Jonny Stapleton
The man who disposed Bernard Dunne of his European super-bantamweight title in 86 seconds last year, Kiko Martinez, will offer the Dublin Destroyer a chance to regain the crown if he is successful in his rematch with reigning European champion Rendall Munroe in November.
Dunne’s manager and promoter Brian Peters had given up hope of a European second coming after Munroe declined all offers to fight the Neilstown native and had claimed they were now working toward world title shots. However, Spanish puncher Martinez has revealed that he has Dunne firmly in his sights. Martinez lost his European crown to Munroe on a majority decision in March but has been granted a rematch by the EBU to take place later this year.
In preparation for his title tilt, Martinez will fight in Dublin on promoter Tommy Egan inaugural show at the National Basketball Arena in July before challenging Munroe, possibly November. If successful, Martinez will offer to make a voluntary defence against Dunne.
“We have to go where the money is and if you look at the European ratings the obvious fight and the attractive fight for Kiko if he disposes of Munroe is Dunne. I believe he will beat Munroe as unbeknown to us at the time Martinez had hernia trouble in the their first bout. It has to be realistic obviously coming back here on 5th July as he has to fight before August 8 to keep his mandatory status with the EBU. Should he beat Munroe as we expect him too, the obvious fight for Kiko is Bernard Dunne and that’s the one he wants,” Martinez’s manager Pat McGee explained.
Dunne has claimed in every press conference since he lost the European belt he now covets that he wants another crack at Martinez to prove he was caught by a lucky punch and insists has the ability to out box the man labeled Mini Tyson.
The fact Martinez, however, will now align himself with Egan and Big Time Boxing and subsequently TV3 could be a stumbling block as they appear to be in direct competition with Brian Peters and his RTE deal. But in truth without being undisputed number one in Europe, Dunne’s world title dreams are slim. Hence a deal will almost certainly be trashed out.
“I told Bernard on the phone and he was excited,” Egan explained. “I am also in talks with Pat McGee and we believe we will be involved in that fight if it does happen” he added.
