British Super-Bantamweight Champion Esham Pickering has set his sights on a showdown with European champion Kiko Martinez and Michael Hunter. Pickering hopes to face both next year after he has taken care of Sean Hughes (Pontefract) on the under card of Carl Froch’s British Super-Middleweight Title clash with Robin Reid on a Hennessy Sports show with title partners GoldenPalace.net at the Nottingham Arena on Friday (9th November)..
Sky Sports will televise the show that also features John Murray against Dean Hickman for the English Lightweight Title.
Spain’s Martinez destroyed Irishman Bernard Dunne in one round last August but Pickering is confident he would win back his old title if they meet next year.
Pickering, who won back the British title with a points win over Marc Callaghan in March, is also keen on a rematch with Hunter, who beat on a controversial points decision two years ago.
The Newark boxer is even willing to bet his purse to tempt Hunter (Hartlepool) into fighting him.
“I’m number one for the European title so hopefully the Martinez fight will happen next year before May,” said Esham.
“Then if I win that I will be in a great position for a world title fight. But first I can’t underestimate Sean Hughes, who gave Billy Corcoran problems and put him down. I need to put in a good performance.
“Martinez is my goal but I want Hunter again too. He never beat me and I want to put the record straight.
“I will fight him two weeks after this next fight and at any weight he wants. I would even bet my whole purse with him on the fight. I would like English champion Rendall Munroe too.
“I honestly feel I can go all the way and haven’t reached my potential yet. I need to stay ring sharp because I was inactive for nearly a year against Dunne and it showed.”
“I still feel I won that fight with Hunter and it’s held up my career, but now I’m making progress towards where I know I can be, fighting for a world title.”