After going through tough times, Kiko ‘La Sensación’ Martinez looks to finish the fight before the final bell when he returns to the ring on April 8.
Martinez (44-11-2, 31 KOs) faces Reiya Abe (24-3-1, 10 KOs) at the Ariake Arena, Koto-Ku in Japan. He returns with all his strength and excitement to fight in the land of the rising sun, where his expectations are more than positive, after his uplifting experience beating the Japanese Hall of Famer Hozumi Hasegawa (36-5, 16 KOs).
“It was an incredible experience, it was a wonderful experience to fight in Japan in itself, but beating a Hall of Famer was marvellous for me,” Martinez said.
La Sensación, who in preparation for the fight, has been posting his training on social media day after day, explained his motivation to fight on. “My family,” he said. “I don’t want my family to lack anything, I want to work very hard for them.”
After defeat to Josh Warrington (31-2-1, 8 KOs) last year, Martinez stunned Jordan Gill to capture the European title.
“I regained my happiness and I regained my desire,” Martinez added.
His expectations are now high for the Abe fight.
“I want to win inside the distance, like I try to do in all my fights and become world champion again,” he said. “There are very good champions in the world at my weight, there is [Mauricio] Lara, El venado Lopez, Josh Warrington, Conlan and of course Kiko Martinez," emphasising Lara as the tougher opponent.
Although focused on Abe, Martinez would like to face Conlan. “I would like to go back to Ireland one day to fight again, it’s a country that I love and they’ve treated me very well.”
