By Per Ake Persson

As previously reported on BoxingScene.com, EBU super bantamweight champion Kiko Martinez (27-3, 19KOs) is injured and the voluntary defense against Carl Frampton, that was set for Belfast on September 22, has been cancelled. Martinez has already been replaced by former champion Steve Molitor.

The EBU have now issued a ruling that Martinez, once he fully recovers from his injury, will have to take on mandatory challenger Alexander Bakhtin (29-0, 11KOs) from Russia.