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Carl Frampton ready for IBF super-bantamweight title showdown with Kiko Martinez

Image: Carl Frampton: Ready to deliver in Belfast in September.

Carl Frampton has warned Kiko Martinez there will be 16,000 fans 'baying for his blood' when the duo slug it out for the IBF super-bantamweight title in Belfast on 6 September.

Frampton stopped the Spaniard in the ninth round in February 2013 but Martinez has since won four fights including a portion of the world title with an impressive victory over Jhonatan Romero.

The rematch is expected to sell out and Frampton believes his vociferous home support will hand him a pivotal advantage.

He said: "I'm a live fighter, I'm hungry, I'm fighting in my own back yard in front of 16,000 people who are going to be baying for his blood and he's not going to be ready for that.

"If you look at Kiko's last performances since losing to me he's won a world title against a weak champion, he's boxed two over-the-hill guys - and looked good against them - but this is a different story.

I'm a live fighter, I'm hungry, I'm fighting in my own back yard in front of 16,000 people who are going to be baying for his blood and he's not going to be ready for that.
Carl Frampton

"I know I'm ready. I know from what I've been doing in sparring and to my opponents - I'm sparring light welterweight guys in the gym and throwing them around.

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"I just feel everything has fallen into place. I'm 27 now, I'm in the prime of my life and the next few years are going to be the best you're going to see from me."

Frampton, who has won all of his 18 fights since turning professional in 2009, knocked out Hugo Fidel Cazares in the second round in April and stopped Jeremy Pardoi in the sixth round last October.

His bout with Martinez at the Odyssey Arena last year, which drew 9,000 spectators, was, however, a tight contest until Frampton unleashed his decisive blow.

"People say it was close - I don't think it was close - you'd be generous to give him two rounds," Frampton said.

"We're both aggressive fighters, we're both compact and like to come forward but Kiko can only come forward.

"He's had more than 30 fights in his career and in every single one he's always on the front foot whereas I can go backwards, forwards, wherever, so that can make the difference.

"Both of us have exciting styles - the first fight was a great fight until the knock-out and I think it'll be more of the same this time round." 

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