WBA World super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KO’s) aims to put in a performance beyond question when he defends his title for the sixth time against former IBF champ Kiko Martinez (32-5, 24KO’s) in Manchester on July 18th.
Speaking with Boxing News Online, Quigg said he doesn’t care how he does it, but he needs to make a statement against a man who has twice lost in exciting bouts against his Northern Irish rival and current IBF champion, Carl Frampton.
“I’m gonna go out there and put on the best performance of my career and clinically beat him. Whether I stop him or box his head off for twelve rounds, I’m going in there to do what I need to do to get the win and look impressive.”
And he had a swift rebuttal for the interviewer, who reminded Quigg that Martinez rates Frampton above him and all of the other top fighters in their division.
“He’ll soon have a different opinion once he’s been in the ring with me. It’s my job to change his opinion. I’m confident that once he’s been in the ring with me He’ll know I’m the best in the world.”
Despite those two losses to Frampton, Martinez is still a world class operator who represents the sternest test of Quigg’s title reign so far. His high output and consistent pressure make for a hot environment between the ropes, and most opponents opt to get out of the kitchen rather than stand and feel the flames. Quigg is not a man who chooses to back up, so stylistically this one is likely to explode into competitive exchanges for as long as it lasts.
Beyond a victory on the 18th Quigg say he is specifically targeting the biggest names at and around his weight class, which is what he will need to do if he is to be considered as one of the sport’s elite operators.
“I want the biggest fights out there whether it’s [Leo] Santa Cruz, [Guillermo] Rigondeaux or Nonito Donaire. Frampton is the fight everybody wants to see; it’s the biggest fight out there for me; it’s the biggest fight out there for him, and it’s juts about getting them fights made.”
Quigg’s Matchroom Sports promoter Eddie Hearn has often stated his intentions to put one of his leading stars in with the wolves.
This Martinez bout is certainly a step in the right direction, but anything less than a comprehensive beatdown will lead to the critics pointing out the challenger’s age and the number of defeats on his record.
All Quigg can do is fulfill his promise and keep on the winning track until one of those big fights becomes a realistic possibility.
