CARL FRAMPTON HAS ridiculed the suggestion from Josh Warrington that he might look for an early night when the pair clash with the IBF world featherweight title at stake on December 22 at the Manchester Arena.
Champion Warrington confessed that his only slight regret from his dismantling of then title holder Lee Selby at Elland Road in May was that he did not capitalise and attempt to force a stoppage when he had the Welshman tiring and cornered.
He vowed to avoid a repeat in his BT Box Office blockbuster against two-weight world champion Frampton and, if the opportunity presents itself, he intends to go for the jugular.
“I don’t like making predictions and I see a Josh Warrington win, but I am going to go for a stoppage this time,” stated the Leeds Warrior last week. If I see it I am going to go for it.
“Coming out of the Selby fight, if I was going to criticise myself or kick myself, I wish I had just pressed on. This time around, if I see the opportunity I am just going to go for it.”
Frampton, for his part, was unimpressed with the thinking of his opponent and mocked the 27-year-old by posting his Boxrec page on Twitter, circling his record which shows six stoppages from his 27 unbeaten contests.
“He may take the pillows off then,” added the Belfast hero in a caustic follow-up comment.
Friendly fire aside, Frampton did agree in response to another poster that all eventualities are being catered for and he was ‘preparing for a hard fight’.
Warrington’s punch power has been questioned in the past, but he has answered critics in recent fights with impressive stoppages over both Patrick Hyland and Dennis Ceylan, with Hyland having previously only been stopped by Gary Russell jr and handing the experience to the Dane for the first time in his career.
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WBO featherweight champion Oscar Valdez is demanding a unification showdown against Josh Warrington or Carl Frampton.
Warrington makes the first defence of his IBF title against Frampton at the Manchester Arena on Saturday December 22nd, live on BT Sport Box Office.
And the winner is set to be heading straight into a mega fight against Valdez who has made four defences of the title he won in July 2016 against Matias Carlos Adrian Rueda.
Valdez who has won all 24 professional fights, 19 by KO said: “I have always said that I want to fight the best.
“Frampton and Warrington are both big names in the sport. I’m ready to fight the winner and unify titles.”
Valdez’s promoter Bob Arum has said he has already spoke with Frank Warren about matching the winner of the Christmas cracker between Warrington and Frampton.
He told ‘The Boxing Beat’ on ESPN+: “We’re looking at January 12 for Valdez to fight on ESPN and then, assuming he wins that fight, then we would put him in with the Frampton-Warrington winner.
“I’ve already talked to Frank Warren about that.”
Valdez, 27, suffered a broken jaw when he outpointed Scott Quigg in March that has kept him sidelined since that win.
There had been speculation he may have boxed Frampton in August, but he hadn’t recovered from his injury in time.
Valdez warned Warrington and Frampton: “I want to prove I’m the best featherweight in the world.”
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. JJ Metcalf will defend his WBC International super-welterweight title against Liam Williams in support of the main event, while Mark Heffron will challenge for the British middleweight title.
Belfast’s blue chip featherweight prospect Michael Conlan (9-0) also features on the bill along with world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0). Merseyside will be represented as Liverpool’s 9-0 Welterweight prospect Sam Maxwell returns to action on the show along with Formby’s 6-0 Heavyweight Alex Dickinson. Derbyshire’s highly touted Cruiserweight Jack ‘One Smack’ Massey will also feature.
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 Eventim.