Scott Quigg produced a stunning second-round knockout win over Kiko Martinez in his WBA World super-bantamweight title defense at the Manchester Arena.
Martinez was the aggressor in the opening round, but Quigg floored the former IBF king with a superb uppercut. The Spaniard got to his feet, but Quigg swarmed all over him with a barrage of heavy shots that sent Martinez tumbling once more, and although he beat the count, the fight was waved off.
“I have never had the reception like that before,” said Quigg. “Thank you to everyone who has come out to support me.
“In the first round I tested his power, and I knew he would gain a bit of confidence. In the second it set it up for the shot we had been working for. And it was a peach of an uppercut.
“I looked a bit wild, but kept as calm as possible and finished him.
“The first round was how we knew it would be. He was very nervous, so he was sharp and on edge, and I had to see what he was doing.
“But I got my range and we knew he would come out quicker in the second and knew he would walk on to my shot.
“I was expecting 12 tortuous rounds. This is my life, and I was welling up in the ring because hopefully now I will get some credit. This is everything I’ve worked for as a kid.”
