Former two-division champion Carl Frampton and undefeated Australian contender Luke Jackson faced off on Thursday in Belfast during the final press conference for their featherweight showdown Saturday from Windsor Park. Frampton’s first defense of the WBO interim belt he won in April will stream live exclusively to U.S. audiences on the SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page and SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel beginning at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT. SHOWTIME will air an encore presentation later that evening on SHOWTIME EXTREME® (10 p.m. ET/PT).
An expected 25,000 fans in Frampton’s hometown will witness the first boxing event at the home of Northern Irish football. In the opening bout, former IBF, WBA and WBO Heavyweight World Champion Tyson Fury will square off against two-time heavyweight title challenger Francesco Pianeta in Fury’s second comeback fight after a two-and-a-half-year layoff.
Studio coverage of SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL from New York begins at 3:30 p.m. ET/12:30 p.m. PT with host Brian Custer and Hall of Fame analyst Steve Farhood providing pre-and post-fight analysis. Live coverage from Belfast, which will be provided by BT Sport, will begin with the Pianeta ring walk shortly after 3:30. U.K. sportscaster John Rawling will call the action with Barry Jones providing analysis, and Ronald McIntosh conducting post-fight interviews for Fury-Pianeta.
Here’s what the fighters had to say at Windsor Park, the site of Saturday’s fight, on Thursday:
Carl Frampton
“This is a dream. It’s soon going to be a reality to fight at Windsor Park in front of my passionate fan base. It’s special not only for me but for the city as well. Everybody’s talking about it and there’s a buzz in the city.
“I’m ready for this. I’ve seen a few things that Luke has said and I truly have not been overlooking him at all this whole camp. With all due respect, this is about more than Luke Jackson. This is about me at Windsor Park and I’ve trained very hard. I’m fitter than I was against Nonito Donaire.
“I know a fair bit about Luke. He’s very highly ranked by the WBO, I think he’s a solid professional. I just believe that I’m a different level. It doesn’t matter what anybody says, whatever happens on the night is all that matters. It’s all about who gets their arm raised at the end of the night and I believe that’s going to be me.
“Since I’ve teamed up with Jamie and his team, I feel like a different person. I wish I would have done it years ago. I’m so happy now and I’m enjoying boxing and I’m ready to put on a big performance.
“People ask me about (Josh) Warrington and (Oscar) Valdez so I mention them and those are the fights I want, but Luke Jackson is the only guy who’s been on my mind this whole training camp.”
Jamie Moore, Frampton’s trainer
“Carl Frampton is the consummate professional. Obviously, we wanted a big unification fight but it just wasn’t possible. What you’ve got to understand is that this has been a dream of Carl’s for a long time and it doesn’t matter who’s in the opposite corner. I understand why Luke Jackson’s camp is hoping that we’re overlooking him because it’s the only way they can gain any sort of confidence. It’s just not the case. Statistics show that he is 10 percent fitter than he was when he fought (Nonito) Donaire.
“Carl is in his prime. Boxing isn’t just about your technique or your fitness, it’s a combination of those two things and your mentality. He’s still improving which is just a scary thought.”
Luke Jackson
“At the start, I thought Carl was overlooking me a bit but I think he understands what’s at stake and if he loses to me his career is pretty much over.
“We’ve trained extremely hard and smart this camp and I’ve spent a lot more time with Billy Hussein than what I normally do. I’ve got to fight the perfect fight and I believe I can do that.
“A world title for me would be a real life “Rocky” story. I’ve come from nothing and there’s a lot I’ve had to deal with in my life to get to this position. I’m very proud of myself to be here. My father is 67 years old and he’s never left the country of Australia and for me to give my father a reason to fly halfway across the world fills me with pride.
“It’s no surprise that it’s going to be a hostile environment on Saturday. At the end of the day, I’ve just got to deal with it. I’ve tried to prepare for it mentally and we just have to wait and see if it works. I’m ready to weigh in and fight.”
Billy Hussein, Jackson’s trainer
“We’ve had a real good training camp. Carl is a great fighter so it’s an honor to be here and train Luke for such a massive fight. This is huge for us and we really want to win this fight. Australian boxing is on a high at the moment. We really want to win this fight for the fans who have supported Luke and it’s great to see the whole of Australia getting behind him for this fight.
“I’ve been around boxing my whole life. I’ve been involved in over a hundred world title fights, this is nothing new to me as a trainer so I’m able to guide Luke through all of this. He’s the ultimate professional and does everything right. His training camp has been more about being smart and I believe Carl Frampton is overlooking Luke and looking ahead to a Warrington fight. Just two weeks ago they were building (Sergey) Kovalev to fight (Dmitry) Bivol and he got beat and I believe we’re going to do the same thing.”
Frank Warren
“Luke’s not come here for just a sightseeing trip, he really fancies the job. It’s a big opportunity to upset Carl and put himself in position for some even bigger fights. But Carl’s a true professional and at the end of the day he knows what’s at stake here. He’s looking to make a statement and put himself in position for a possible unification fight. It’s no secret Josh Warrington is coming here – there are big things that can happen for the winner of this fight.”
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ON Saturday night Carl Frampton defends his ‘interim’ WBO featherweight title against Australian Luke Jackson at Belfast’s Windsor Park live on BT Sport from 7.45pm.
Frampton’s great friend Paddy Barnes challenges WBC flyweight champion Cristofer Rosales on the biggest show ever held in Belfast and reckons his clash will steal the show in front of 25,000 fans.
Here are a selection of quotes from today’s final press conference.
FRANK WARREN (Promoter)
“It is going to be a fantastic occasion. We have Ireland’s best in action.
“Carl is a tremendous professional, fantastic to work with and the reason we are here. He knows what is at stake and wants to put himself in line for a full world title fight.
“He is not fazed and just wants the best. He wanted to fight at Windsor Park and we have delivered.
“After this he will be in a major, major fight which fans will love, but Jackson is here to win and upsets happen. This is Carl’s dream and I don’t want it turning into a nightmare.
“Paddy is really stepping up to the plate after five professional fights and if gameness wins world titles he wins this weekend.
“I am looking for history being made and I believe Paddy can do it in his sixth fight.”
CARL FRAMPTON
“It has been a dream to box at Windsor Park and is about to become a reality. To have friends on the bill like Paddy Barnes, Conrad Cummings and Steven Ward makes it more special.
“I have seen a few things Luke has said, but from start to finish I have trained very hard and it’s about more than Luke. It’s Windsor Park.
“The last year everything has flipped. I’m in my prime and about to deliver big performances. In the past I was getting big wins, but I wasn’t a happy fighter.
“I know a fair bit about Luke and he is highly ranked for a reason. He is a good fighter, but I am at another level.
“It will also mean the world to me for Paddy to win a world title on this bill and I think his fight will steal the show.
“He is always the joker, but he is serious this time and if I had my last pound I would back him.”
JAMIE MOORE (Frampton’s trainer)
“Carl is a consummate professional. We wanted one of the top two or three guys in the world, but it wasn’t possible. Windsor Park is the dream he has always wanted though.
“I understand why Luke’s camp say Carl has overlooked him, but that is to give them confidence. Statistics have shown he is 10 per-cent fitter than the Donaire fight.
“I think Carl is in his prime. Boxing isn’t about fitness and technique but also mental. It is about getting everything right.
“Carl is still improving and that is scary. He does things you cannot teach.”
LUKE JACKSON
“I thought Carl was overlooking me but he knows what is at stake. If Carl loses to me his career is over. I have got to fight the perfect fight and I believe I can do it.
“It’s a real life Rocky story if I win. I have come from nothing. I have gone through a lot to get here and if I spoke about that I’d be here all day.
“My father has left Australia for the first time ever to be here and it makes me so proud. A 67-year-old man has travelled halfway around the world for me.
“I have tried to prepare mentally for all the things that can happen and we have to see if it works.”
BILLY HUSSEIN (Jackson’s trainer)
“Luke is an ultimate professional and I have had to slow him down. I believe Carl is overlooking us and thinking of the Warrington fight.”
CRISTOFER ROSALES
“I am used to fighting away and I have no bother fighting in front of this big crowd. I know enough to realise I am going to win on Saturday.
“I don’t want Paddy to go running like a chicken. I will let him dictate and then I will catch him.”
PADDY BARNES
“It is going to be a great fight. Cristofer is relentless and it’s going to be fight of the night.
“To become a world champion especially in my home city will be the best thing ever. If I dictate the pace, I can control the distance and will win.”
DANNY VAUGHAN (Barnes trainer)
“The camp has been unbelievable and Paddy has given his heart and soul in camp and we just can’t wait.
“We have been to spar with Kal Yafai who beat Rosales and that was fantastic.”
Also on the bill Tyson Fury fights Francesco Pianeta and WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder will be ringside. A big win and Fury could face Wilder later this year.
There is a star studded undercard and just a handful of tickets remain from www.ticketmaster.ie.
