TAKALANI NDLOVU vs KIKO MARTINEZ

Spanish 122-pounder Kiko Martinez lived up to his “La Sensación” nickname when he stunningly knocked out Bernard Dunne in one round in Dublin two years ago. He hasn’t looked anywhere near as sensational in his subsequent fights, including twice losing to the southpaw Rendall Munroe in European title bouts. Somehow, though, Martinez finds himself in an IBF junior featherweight title eliminator when he meets Takalani Ndlovu in Johannesburg on Friday.

Ndlovu has already had one crack at the title, when he was stopped in the ninth round by Steve Molitor in Canada. The South African was being outboxed in that fight but he looked sure to go the distance, only to get caught by a right hook that took away his legs and dropped him for the first of three knockdowns in round nine.

Although this is the only time that Ndlovu has lost inside the distance, he was wobbled by Ricardo Castillo in their closely contested fight in Chicago. I thought that Ndlovu was a little lucky to win that one, but the judges liked his higher workrate over Castillo's heavier blows.

Martinez is strong but somewhat limited, but he is dangerous early in a fight — if he can hit Ndlovu, he can definitely hurt him.

Ndlovu has height and reach advantages and he is the superior technical boxer, but Martinez is stronger, more robust and heavier handed. I do feel that Ndlovu is vulnerable, but he is at home in South Africa, and this could make the difference.

The South African is likely to be under heavy pressure in the first half of the fight, but if he can get through the storm without getting seriously rocked I think that Ndlovu can take over in the home straight. I’m going with Ndlovu, on points.