Martinez - I'll bin Munroe

Martinez: bullish mood

KIKO MARTINEZ
v RENDALL MUNROE
European super-bantam title
Live on Friday Fight Night
9.30pm, Sky Sports 2

European champion Kiko Martinez says he will celebrate his birthday by binning Rendall Munroe.

The Spaniard turns 22 on Friday, the day he puts his super-bantamweight strap on the line against the binman from Alfreton, live on Sky Sports.

Martinez is fighting in England for the first time in 17 professional bouts but comes to these shores on the back of a stunning first-round KO of Bernard Dunne in August.

He is undefeated as a pro and also boasts a perfect amateur record of some 40m contests and says his slate will remain unblemished at the Harvey Haddon Leisure Centre.

"I am here to put 'The Dustman' into the dustbin, and bring my title back home with me," he said.

"I've already destroyed Bernard Dunne, who was supposed to be a real superstar. Munroe is just a voluntary defence for me and I see no danger. The title is staying with me."

Martinez's team were so confident of victory against Dunne they put a hefty sum of money on their man to win by first-round KO at a price of 66/1.

But this time they are up against a fighter who has only been beaten once himself - and that up at featherweight against then-champion Andy Morris.

Munroe has not fought since October after seeing big-time bouts against Wayne McCullough and Commonwealth champion Anyetei Laryea fall through at the end of 2007.