CARL FRAMPTON has accused big fight rival Josh Warrington of being a dirty fighter with his head and warned: Put the nut on me and I’ll give one back.
Warrington (27-0) makes the first defence of his IBF world Featherweight championship against the Belfast great at Manchester Arena on Saturday December 22.
Two-weight world champion Frampton is ready for everything Warrington brings following his upset world title win against Lee Selby.
But he believes the Yorkshireman can be crafty at bending the rules, saying: “Josh is fit, he is determined, but a bit dirty with his head because he comes bulling forward at times.
“If I thought he did it (head butted) deliberately I would give him one back.”
“He comes in and it almost looks accidental, but he bulls in a lot with his head. He is clever with it and sometimes he gets away with it.”
Frampton (26-1) is likely to call for the referee to be strong and voice his concerns when the rules meeting is held on fight eve.
He added: “That is something as a team we have been paying close attention to and we’re aware of, definitely”
Frampton, 31, has been in camp at trainer Jamie Moore’s gym for several weeks, but started sparring last week – six weeks before the sensational showdown that the boxing world cannot wait to witness.
He added: “I started sparring last week and it terms of fitness and sharpness for the first one I was pleasantly surprised and very happy.
“The real hard stuff starts now and the graft picks up, but I enjoy it and I enjoy sparring.
“I’m looking forward this fight. It is going to be an exciting fight and it’s one that has got me excited. “It’s for a legitimate world title. It’s between two guys in their prime.
“Josh is full of confidence at the minute. He is coming off his best win against Lee Selby. I am on the way back and had three good wins since losing to Leo Santa Cruz.
“I need to put in a good performance to win this fight and I am not overlooking him in the slightest, but I have fought and beaten better fighters than Josh.
“I have said that before and I will continue to say it.”
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) takes on former commonwealth champion Jason Cunningham (24-5), world flyweight title challenger Paddy Barnes (5-1) and unbeaten Light Heavyweight contender Steven Ward (9-0) also feature.
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.
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JOSH WARRINGTON INSISTS that nobody should be fooled by the pleasantries exchanged by himself and Carl Frampton on the recent media tour because he is fully prepared to break the pain barrier in order to defend his world title and become No.1 at Christmas.
The three-city whistle-stop promotional trip to highlight the IBF world featherweight title defence between holder Warrington and two-weight world champion Frampton was notable for the respectful rhetoric between the two fighters.
The build-up to Warrington’s title winning encounter against then champion Lee Selby in May was a spikey affair as a result of a feud that had developed between the pair from when a fight was originally mooted.
The just turned 28-year-old Leeds man states that the niceties will not stand the test of time when the two reach the business end of their association.
“Listen, don’t get it twisted, we are going in there to hurt each other and I am willing to die to defend my belt because it means that much to me,” said the 27-0 champion, who went on to outline his intentions post-Frampton.
“I want to give it all to take it home with me again and that is what I’m going to do.
“This is why we have taken the fight so soon, because we beat Carl and I want to go on and unify the division.
“I intend to spend Christmas at the top of the rankings, the No.1 featherweight in the country. It will be a nice little Christmas present.”
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.
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JOSH WARRINGTON sees double every day when he looks lovingly at his twin daughters, and now they are set to be the downfall of Carl Frampton.
Nick Manners who helps Warrington’s dad Sean O’Hagan train the IBF Featherweight champion believes the boxer’s daughters, played a major role in his shock world title win against Lee Selby in May – having been born weeks earlier.
And now it’s Frampton’s turn to feel the force of baby power, when Warrington (27-0) makes the first defence of his title at Manchester Arena on Saturday December 22, live on BT Box Office.
Manners said: “People say they say there’s a difference in fighters when they become world champions, but to tell you the truth I noticed the difference when Josh became a father before the Selby fight.
“That meant more to him than being a world champion. Being a Father with a world title in the offing that gave him serious drive before Selby.
“I saw something in Josh’s resolve in the weeks leading up to the Selby fight that really impressed me.”
Besides a five month training camp before Selby and becoming a dad for the first time, Warrington has also moved house with his family during preparations for his tough first defence against Belfast’s Frampton (26-1).
That means a nonstop 2018 with rest at a minimum.
Manners added: “We’ve talked about how busy he is away from the ring and we have discussed that, but sometimes you need distractions away from boxing.
“I’m glad the distraction isn’t pubs, women or this, that and the other. It’s things that are life and no matter what is going on in the boxing ring you still have a life to live.
“He trains diligently. He is a very hard worker and needs a distraction. Having his babies switches his mind off. Moving house is stressful but it is still a distraction from boxing.
“At one time we were begging for fights. Right now, we have them coming and from a champions point of view he wants to keep momentum going.”
Although most people cannot separate Warrington and Frampton when it comes to picking a winner, Manner believes his man hasn’t even scratched the surface.
He says: “What you saw against Selby is just a piece of what Josh Warrington is capable of.
“Given the opportunities what we are getting now, I think you’re gonna start seeing the best of the Leeds warrior.
“Josh Warrington is the real deal. He has so many attributes to him.
“I’m not saying he is a 10 out 10 fighter. I would put him at 7 1/2 or 8 out of 10, but that is enough to beat a lot of 10/10 fighters who may not apply themselves as diligently as he does.
“He wants to learn, he wants to improve, he’s not scared to take a challenge. This is a real live challenge.
“There are not many people who would want to fight Carl Frampton in their first defence, but we’re in it and here.
“Leeds should never have been the last place in Yorkshire to get a world champion, but for some reason we were.
“Sometimes the best things are worth waiting for and now we have a credible champion who ticks all the boxes.
“At the end of the day, Carl Frampton still has plenty left in the tank. He is a credible opponent for anybody.
“We’ve got to this level and we’re staying at this level.”
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.
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).
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