BOXING:After an unconvincing defence of his European super-bantamweight title in Dublin last night, Rendall Munroe's camp revealed he is to have a rematch with Spaniard Kiko Martinez next year.
The binman from Leicester stunned Martinez last March to take the title but has been far from impressive in his three fights since and his decision to avoid Bernard Dunne and opt for what is sure to be a less lucrative fight against Martinez is likely to frustrate the Dubliner.
"We've pencilled that fight in for February somewhere in the UK," promoter Frank Maloney said. "We've done a deal with Martinez's people and the only stipulation is that they don't want to fight in Nottingham."
Maloney insisted last night that Dunne will get his chance against Munroe but that as the champion the Nottingham-based fighter is the one who calls the shots when it comes to a title defence.
Both camps have been engaged in a public spat over recent months, with Dunne and his promoter Brain Peters insisting Munroe is avoiding the Dubliner.
Maloney, however, is adamant his man will face Dunne but insists the money has to be right for Munroe.
A showdown between the two would most likely take place in Dublin, probably at the newly-built O2 Arena, where a bigger crowd would be guaranteed and Maloney could add his Irish charge, Darren Sutherland, to the undercard.
Munroe faced Martinez after the Spaniard stunned Dunne with a first round stoppage in The Point Theatre in August 2007. It was the first and only defeat of the Neilstown-fighter's career.
Dunne's comeback has been steady, if not electric. Against Felix Machado and Damian Marciano he was taken the distance before points wins, while most recently, against Christian Faccio, a cut to Dunne after a clash of heads forced the fight to be stopped and the Irishman won on a points decision.
