CARL FRAMPTON believes unifying the World Featherweight title could make him Ireland’s greatest ever fighter and on course to fulfil his Hall of Fame dream.
The two weight world champion will take a step in that direction is he takes the IBF World Featherweight crown from Josh Warrington (27-0) at Manchester Arena on Saturday December 22, live on BT Sport Box Office.
The winner is likely to line up a unification fight against WBO title holder Oscar Valdez next spring or early summer.
Frampton (26-1) has already unified world titles at Super-Bantamweight when he defeated Scott Quigg in February 2016 becoming IBF and WBA champion at 122lb.
He said: “If I unify at featherweight I will have done it in two divisions and I would be in the argument for Ireland’s greatest fighter.
“I want to do that and define my legacy.
“I would like to have a go at Super-Featherweight. I haven’t got the dimensions to go too many divisions up, but I can maybe tackle Super-Featherweight.
“Myself and Steve Collins are Ireland’s only two-weight World champions. If you become a champion in a third weight division, that is Hall of Fame stuff.
“I’d love to be in the Hall of Fame. I’m still a bit off, but I would love to win a few more big fights and get a call one day saying; ‘You’ve been inducted.’”
Making history and securing family future are Frampton’s motivation, but he is also fired up by Warrington’s comments that he has seen better days as a boxer.
“I believe I’m in my peak years. Josh thinks I’m probably over the hill and on the way down, but he has got it wrong definitely,” snapped the 31-year-old Belfast man.
“My family is one motivation because I want security for me, my wife and the kids. Legacies are another and the third is people saying I’m over the hill – that is a big motivating factor.
“I use all these things to my advantage and I think I will. I’ll do it on the night. I promise I’ll win. Josh is made for me and I will prove I’m a better fighter.”
IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office. Mark Heffron will now fight WBO Interim world title challenger Liam Williams in support of the main event, while Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan (9-0) will take on former commonwealth champion Jason Cunningham (24-5) along with world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0) also featuring.
In another middleweight addition, 7-0-1 Darlington Middleweight Troy ‘Trojan’ Williamson has also been added to the show after his thrilling draw with Jack Flatley earlier this year.
Tickets are priced at £50 Upper Tier, £80 Tier, £100 Tier, £150 Tier, £200 Floor/Tier, £300 Floor, £400 Floor, £600 Inner Ring VIP Hospitality and are available.
‘Trojan’ to delight Dunston before big stage
Unbeaten middleweight Troy Williamson is looking to tee up a glamourous outing on the Josh Warrington vs. Carl Frampton undercard by winning in style this weekend.
‘The Trojan’ (7-0-1-KO5) fights at Dunston’s Lancastrian Suite on Saturday night before heading to the bright lights of the Manchester Arena on December 22 and knows two clinical performances are required to ensure a huge 2019.
Williamson said: “My focus is on the Dunston show first and foremost and I’ll bring to both shows what I always bring – excitement and a good fight for the fans.
“I’m obviously very excited to be on such a massive card as Warrington vs. Frampton. I’ve been pushing and pushing for it because it’s such a big stage to be on.
“It’s a while since I was active so it’s great to have these two opportunities to get the ball rolling again before the year is out.
“I don’t think I’m very far away from titles in terms of my talent and the performances I’ve turned in. Ideally, I’ll get a couple more eight-rounders in and then maybe one 10-rounder before pushing for titles.
“All I’m lacking at this stage of my career is experience and that will soon be under my belt.”
Liam Williams faces Mark Heffron on December 22
THE THRILLING PROSPECT of Mark Heffron taking on Liam Williams is to become a reality at the Manchester Arena on December 22, live on BT Sport Box Office.
Heffron, 21-0 (17KOs) and Williams, 18-2-1 (13KOs), collide on the undercard of Josh Warrington defending his IBF world featherweight title against Carl Frampton in what is certain to be an absolute barnstormer of a fight.
The match-up between the WBC International middleweight champion – and mandatory challenger for the British title – and the former British and WBO European super welterweight champion has come about due to the withdrawal of the originally scheduled opponents.
Heffron was due to challenge the British champion Jason Welborn, who subsequently vacated the title, while Williams was due to fight JJ Metcalf for the WBC International belt. Metcalf has pulled out of the fight due to injury.
There was no willingness amongst middleweight rivals to replace Welborn and oppose Heffron for the Lonsdale belt, but Williams has no issues over trying his hand at the higher weight against such a dangerous operator.
There is a history behind the match, with Heffron’s brother Ronnie suffering his only career defeat to Williams back in July 2014. The former standout amateur and highly-rated prospect was retired in the sixth round with a severe cut to the head and has not fought since.
“It is going to be some fight for me now on December 22 and it is one I am looking forward to as well,” said Heffron of the explosive match-up. “It is definitely a bigger fight than I had lined up before and it is one that will move me onto massive titles afterwards.
“Credit to Williams for stepping up when nobody else wanted to and he is also coming up from light middleweight. Give him his due for that.
“He is a big light middle though with a big back and very strong, so there shouldn’t be much between us when it comes to size.
“It is a fight that has got thriller written all over it and the idea of hitting and not getting hit will go out of the window fairly quickly.
“Of course I am looking to put it right for Ronnie – there is nothing wrong with a bit of revenge!”
Like Heffron, Williams believes he now faces a greater challenge than he was previously anticipating.
“One hundred per cent it is a bigger fight than I had lined up before – it is a cracking fight,” said the Welshman known as the ‘Machine’.
“What can I say other than it excites me. It gives me the chance to prove myself at the weight above as well and I should say that I am not being forced to move up because I can make light middle and will still make it.
“It is just an opportunity that has come to me because that bottle-job Metcalf pulled out again.
“Listen, I respect Mark Heffron, he is a quality fighter who can punch and box. I believe I can beat him and if I didn’t I wouldn’t have taken this fight and moved up a weight to take it.
“It will be a war and an incredible punch-up.”
IBF world featherweight champion Josh Warrington takes on former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton at the Manchester Arena on December 22nd live on BT Sport Box Office. Mark Heffron will now fight WBO Interim world title challenger Liam Williams in support of the main event, while Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan (9-0) will also feature on the bill along with world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0).
In another middleweight addition, 7-0-1 Darlington Middleweight Troy ‘Trojan’ Williamson has also been added to the show after his thrilling draw with Jack Flatley earlier this year.
Tickets are priced at £50 Upper Tier, £80 Tier, £100 Tier, £150 Tier, £200 Floor/Tier, £300 Floor, £400 Floor, £600 Inner Ring VIP Hospitality and are available.
Tickets available via Manchester-Arena.com