Two-time champion Kiko Martinez retirement announcement

Kiko Martinez calls it a career.

A heartfelt video released by the former Second Division champion who has traveled the world confirms his decision to retire after 19 years in the pro ranks. But it got to a point where there was nothing left to do in the ring.

“It’s time,” Martinez said Sunday in a social media post along with a video of him in Spanish. “I would like to announce that it is time to say goodbye to boxing.”

The IBF junior featherweight title’s 13-month reign came during the best year of Martinez’s career. But it hardly sets the mark he left behind. His more worthy legacy is a twist on British soil. especially overcoming thinking Galahad in the sixth round at his opponent’s hometown of Sheffield to lift the IBF featherweight title.

Martinez first gained global acclaim in 2007, three years after his pro debut, when he scored a stunning first-round win over undefeated Bernard Dunn on the road. in dublin Ireland. He was defeated but was not announced at the time. He doesn’t have a proper profession and can’t catch lightning in a bottle.

His next fight came seven months later—again on the road where he lost his first in a twelve-round majority decision to Randall Munroe. Relegated to the level of a few competitors losing to Takalani Ndlovu and Carl Frampton, both of whom won major titles.

Finally, Martinez had his moment too. With a career revitalization that included the services of line-middleweight champion Sergio Martinez, Maravilla Promotions was selected as a veteran boxer. He rewarded his manager by defeating Jonathan. Romero, who was unbeaten in the sixth round at the IBF Championship fight in August 2013, achieved this feat in Atlantic City. which was launched for the first time in the United States. and one of nine countries he would fight in his 19-year, 58-fight career. His 13-month reign ended in repeated defeats to Frampton in a September 2014 bout in Belfast. Although not before he successfully defended former champions Jeffrey Mathebula and Hozumi Hasegawa.

Knockout defeats in three subsequent nominations over the next five years suggested a permanent stay as goalkeeper.

Surprisingly, defeat at rivalry level took a toll on his career as Martinez ended up in Celfa’s controversial twelve-round decision. Barrett at the February 2021 meeting, the fight took place at a matchroom boxing sponsored show. His team has long admired Martinez and promoted his next four bouts. One of them was a victory over the aforementioned Galahad, beating Josh Warrington on stoppage time to end their featherweight title reign in their bout on Day 26. last march and a fourth-round knockout win over Jordan. Gill on October 29 at the OVO Arena Wembley.

The EBU title win over Gill created a final eliminator for Martinez, however, he did not perform well in the 12 round decision, beating Reiya Abe in an IBF 122lb bout at the 122lb on April 8th in Tokyo, Japan. Japan

An unbalanced defeat left veteran Martinez with no more tricks left in his arsenal. A few months later he spent a vacation with his beloved in Spain. before he officially decided to walk away after “All the amazing memories sport has given me.

“I just want to thank everyone, especially my family… who has always supported me.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer at BoxingScene.com Twitter: @JakeNDaBox