Kiko “La Sensación” Martinez and Gabriel “Chico Guapo” Campillo will return to action in their home countries of Spain this Friday, December 12, at the Palau Olímpic Vall d’Hebron in Barcelona.
The IBF #8- and WBO #11-rated Martinez (31-5, 23 KOs) will drop back down to his natural weight of 118 lbs. to face French southpaw Amor Belahdi Ali (13-3-1, 2 KOs) in an eight-round battle. Meanwhile, Campillo (24-6-1, 11 KOs), continuing to stay busy while waiting for another high-profile showdown, will face Czech veteran Tomas Adamek (21-10-2, 8 KOs) in an eight-round bout.
The pair of former world champs will headline a seven-fight night of boxing, presented by former middleweight champion Sergio Martinez and his Maravillabox, in association with Javier Gallego’s Gallego Prada Promociones. For tickets, visit www.marcaentradas.com or www.ticketmaster.es.
“Kiko was never a super bantamweight, he was always at his best at 118 lbs.,” said his promoter, Sampson Lewkowicz of Sampson Boxing. “He only took the great opportunity offered to him at 122 lbs and made the most of it, by winning the title and defending it twice. He will be even stronger at bantamweight and will be fighting for a world championship in the near future.”
Lewkowicz says that for Campillo, it is a waiting game. “Gabriel Campillo has earned another big fight with his IBF #2 elimination-fight victory over Thomas Williams Jr. So now we keep him sharp and busy while we wait for a big fight for him.”
Campillo, says Lewkowicz, would love another shot at a fighter who defeated him in January 2013. “We would love to face (now WBA Super and IBF World and WBO World Light Heavyweight Champion) Sergey Kovalev again. That was not the real Gabriel Campillo in with him that night. He was distracted by other things. Fully focused as he is now, the real Gabriel Campillo could give a slugger like Kovalev a very hard time.”
Co-promoter and credited with discovering the special talent that is Sergio Martinez, Lewkowicz says he will continue his association with the great champion, even after Martinez retires.
“Sampson Boxing and Maravillabox will forever be tied together. I have worked with Sergio Martinez for over eight years now and he is a true gentleman and I am proud to partner with him at every opportunity. I wish him all the best with this terrific show he is bringing to the beautiful country of Spain.”
