Frampton opponent to be announced next week as Warren lines up Winter Warrington clash
Frank Warren hopes to confirm Carl Frampton’s Windsor Park opponent by next week.
Pressure to announce a named opponent has skyrocketed ever since it became clear that Josh Warrington would not undertake a twelve-week turnaround following his upset IBF featherweight title win over Lee Selby.
Many had felt that it was always unlikely that the Selby-Warrington winner would be manning the other corner in the Belfast football stadium on August 18th and this was categorically confirmed following the Elland Road fight on Saturday night.
With the other three champions at the weight – Gary Russell, Oscar Valdez, and Leo Santa Cruz – all also ruled out, there are a dearth of big names available for the big BT Sport fight night.
English fighters Kid Galahad and Scott Quigg look to be the two highest-profile names remaining but neither suggestion has been well received by Irish fight fans.
Frampton’s promoter, Warren, has claimed that he has some avenues that he will explore and that he will seal an opponent this week that will be announced next week – with a defence of Frampton’s WBO interim belt against someone from the organisation’s Top 15 looking likeliest.
“We’re working on that now,” the veteran fight boss told BoxingScene.
“We were working on that at the weekend. We’ve got a couple of ideas so we’ll see where we go.”
“I’d like to get something sorted out this week so we can announce it next week,” he added, giving no hints.
The promoter is keen to make an in-house fight between Frampton and Warrington and – contrary to assumptions – wants this bout to play out in an arena this Winter rather than in a stadium next Summer.
Where this would be is unknown, although the Manchester Arena and London’s O2 Arena look to be the two most likely destinations
“It might have to go to neutral territory but we’ll see,” Warren outlined.
“Obviously indoors in Belfast the venue [SSE Odyssey Arena] is roughly the same size as the one in Leeds [First Direct Arena]. We need a bigger venue than that so it might be that it has to go to neutral territory.”
“I want to do that fight and I want to do that fight this year, that’s what my intentions are. It’s a big fight and I don’t want it to go away,” said the Londoner.
With plans for a Warrington-Frampton fight this Winter – potentially a unification should Valdez vacate the WBO crown – this would also suggest that ‘The Jackal’s’ August 18th opponent will be something of an easier fight rather than the blockbuster big name match-up that has previously been mooted.
Read Shaun Brown’s full interview with Frank Warren HERE.
