Time for talk over as Dunne plans KO

DAVID MARTINEZ does not seem to appreciate the enormity of the challenge that lies ahead of him when he takes on Bernard Dunne before his hometown fans at the National Stadium on Saturday night.

The ink had barely dried on the contract when Martinez was firing his first salvo from Albuquerque, and yesterday his promoter, Lenny Fresquez, joined the verbal assault, telling Dunne to prepare for the first defeat of his career, describing Dunne as a “nothing who had done nothing and would never do anything”.

“Dunne’s been fighting bums and old men. His team has done a great job babysitting him up to now so I’m amazed they have made the mistake of putting him in with Martinez,” he said. “My guy is young and hungry, he’s not an old man and he’s not a bum.”

Dunne’s response was simple: “I honestly don’t think they realise what they are up against. Martinez certainly does not realise what he is in against.

“I respect all my opponents but let’s say that they have dropped down a bit in my estimation. We believe he will cause us some problems. He has fast hands, he is a good boxer and he moves well. For the first four or five rounds he will skeet around but I have been preparing for that.”

He admitted the Texan is young, fit and capable of going the distance, as he proved in 12 of his 17 fights, but he is not noted for his knockout power.

“I would not expect him to go the distance. I have been preparing to go the distance with him if need be, but I am going into that ring on Saturday night to knock him out and settle this once and for all,” he said.

“Like I said, he will cause a whole new set of problems. I know the type of guy he is. I have been there myself. We both have ambitions. It is an important fight for both of us.

“For me, it is a step towards a showdown with Michael Hunter. To get to Hunter I know I have to beat Martinez. For Martinez it is a huge opportunity. If he beats me he will jump several rungs up the ladder.

“I don’t think people realise how much is riding on this fight. We are under no illusions.

“I have spent six weeks in training camp. I have done everything I could to prepare for this fight. I am fit, I feel strong and I am looking forward to it.

“Martinez has also been preparing for six weeks for this one and I don’t think he has ever prepared like that before. The fans are in for a big treat.”

Dunne will be going for his 21st straight win in an unbeaten career that began back in December 2001, when he stopped Rodrigo Ortiz in three minutes at Feather Falls Casino in Oroville.

Tomorrow James Moore from Arklow faces a new opponent for his return to the National Stadium on the undercard. Englishman Kevin Phelan has been replaced by a French light middleweight, Salaheddine Sarhani, who appears an unknown quantity.

Now based in New York, where he is trained by Harry Keitt, Moore has won all six of his professional fights to date, five by knockout.