FanSided’s 2021 boxing awards and greatest performances

2021 Comeback Fighter of the Year: Kiko Martinez

In November, Kiko Martinez was supposed to be an afterthought when he stepped into the ring against then IBF featherweight champion Kid Galahad. Instead, he walked out of the Sheffield Arena as the new champion, which is why he is our Comeback Fighter of the Year.

Martinez (43-10-2, 30 KOs) has always been a tough customer. He became a world champion in 2013, winning the IBF super bantamweight title, which he defended twice before losing it in 2014 to Carl Frampton.

Martinez lost his next three title shots and accrued several losses, but none of that mattered after pulling off the upset against Galahad.

Martinez was cut and bruised early against Galahad. However, he turned things around in round 5 when he dropped Galahad. Galahad didn’t recover, and Martinez knocked him out cold seconds into round 6. It was an unexpected result from the fighter who looked like he was in the twilight of his career, but the massive win and title gave new life to Martinez in his second act.

“Kiko Martinez pulled quite an upset this year,” said author Todd Snyder. “His victory over Galahad really took me by surprise. The victory puts him back on track for more big fights. In a year full of comebacks and upsets, I think his comeback was the most surprising.”

“After losing to Zelfa Barrett early in 2021, it looked like Kiko Martinez needed to call it a career at age 35,” stated Gayle Falkenthal. “But La Sensacion got one last call as a gatekeeper for undefeated British featherweight Kid Galahad and blew him out in six rounds. Viva Kiko! He’s always been treated less than respectfully – better late than ever. I hope he and Sandor Martin drink a toast to Spanish boxing on New Year’s Eve!”