By Ed Leahy at the Titanic Quarter, Belfast
Carl Frampton was crowned world champion after defeating Kiko Martinez with a resounding unanimous decision in front of 16,000 supporters on a windy night in Belfast’s Titanic Quarter.
The challenger, Frampton controlled the fight from the opening round at the open-air venue right through to the final bell of the 12th in this thrilling contest in front of his home crowd on the banks of the River Lagan.
Frampton knocked Martinez down with a ferocious right hook in the fifth round, but credit to the champion who laboured on, eventually succumming to the class, speed and power of the Belfast fighter.
Renowned for his frenetic approach, Martinez proved much more conservative in the opening rounds as he sensed that he was in for a long night, with memories of last year’s ninth-round knock-out defeat to Frampton still fresh in the memory.
And it was Frampton who dictated the fight from the centre of the ring and possibly surprised Martinez with his aggressive approach throwing some booming right hands, which kept the champion very quiet.
Martinez opened up a little in the second round with some slick left hooks but Frampton remained unfazed as if proving a point that he would not be outmuscled by the always-aggressive man from Alicante.
The fight began to open up with both fighters landing but neither hurt as the second round came to a conclusion.
Another huge right from Frampton rocked Martinez in the third, which spurred the Spaniard into action as he enjoyed some success with the left, pushing Frampton backwards.
But even in retreat, Frampton was picking his shots and never looked troubled as he danced his way around the champion’s advances looking extremely comfortable in the process.
The fourth round was another where Martinez matched Frampton without dominating as his left hook was enjoying some success, but again, Martinez appeared to be playing the waiting game, holding back on the big swiping punches.
Martinez stepped up in the fifth but it was to prove the beginning of his downfall.
The champion came out with much more conviction but Frampton was ready and alert, evading everything that Martinez threw.
One wild swing too many was all Frampton needed as he countered with a sublime right hook that sent Martinez crashing to the canvas.
The champion bounced up, almost a little too fast, looking to show he was not hurt. But he was and happy to hear the bell soon after.
In fact, Martinez took an entire round to recover, as he looked weary in the sixth as Frampton took his time lining up and delivering clean punches without wasting energy.
"He's twice the fighter I was. He's going to be something really special" - Barry McGuigan
But such is the stature of the champion that he came flying back at the Belfast boxer in the seventh and it appeared to catch Frampton a little off guard as the marauding Martinez threw everything he had, now knowing that he would need a knock-down to have any chance of getting back into the contest.
Frampton may have been surprised by the advancing Martinez but he coped with everything and again showing his style and ability to fight off the back foot, once more landing some fine defensive shots.
The eighth round was all about the courage and guts of the champion as he tried to walk through Frampton’s big hits to get close to the Belfast man. Blood trickled from Martinez’s left eye as he endeavoured to get thought the stubborn defence and even when he threw his head at Frampton, it was met with a fist full of leather.
Martinez was now like a tiring bull getting slowly put out of his misery as Frampton landed shot after shot as the champion’s pace slowed dramatically. However, despite his noticeable deterioration, he still looked dangerous.
In round ten, for the first time in the fight, Frampton looked like he was also tiring as the two fighters stood toe to toe trading laboured punches, the Belfast crowd momentarily nervous in fear that Martinez could sense something turning.
But once again, the right hand of Frampton showed that there was plenty left in the tank as Martinez tried every trick to unsettle, but in vain.
Martinez’s last chance arrived early in the 11th round as he dug deep to unleash a monster left hook, which rocked Frampton, yet there was nothing in the tank to follow it up.
Again the Belfast man lifted the work-rate and the home crowd sensed a stoppage but the knock-out punch never arrived and the champion would get to fight a final round.
Frampton looked to finish in style yet knowing that the fight was won, he remained cautious with Martinez always capable of pulling a punch out of nowhere.
But it was still Frampton’s round and a sustained spell of pressure put Martinez on the ropes as the champion in waiting went in for the kill.
Martinez survived the onslaught and the referee proved correct in allowing the champion to work his way off the ropes and out of trouble to make it to the final bell.
But that bell would also call time on Martinez’s IBF super-bantamweight title as Frampton was deservedly awarded the contest (119-108, 119-108, 118-111) by all three ringside judges.
Frampton thanked McGuigan and dedicated the victory to his grandfather, who died recently.
"That was for my granda," he said on Box Nation. "I love you," before making it clear who he wants for his next ring outing, saying: "The only man I want to fight is Scott Quigg.
"I'll fight him in Manchester, I'll fight him anywhere, but we've got options."
The new champion gave Martinez credit for making a contest of it for a while, saying: "He was so dangerous. He's a hard puncher. I haven't seen my face yet but it feels lumpy.
"I've never respected a fighter as much in my life. What a fighter and what a worthy world champion."
McGuigan, whose son Shane was savouring success as the winning trainer, generously said of Frampton: "He's twice the fighter I was. He's going to be something really special."
A national hero from his fighting days, McGuigan said a fight for Frampton against Santa Cruz would offer "real gravitas".
Frampton added on BBC Radio 5 Live: "I feel a bit emotional. It's been a long time coming.
"It's been a hard road and there's been ups and downs. I'm glad for everyone who has ever supported me and I intend to hold onto it for a very long time."
