Frank Warren confirms Carl Frampton fight plan

There is no confusion over who Carl Frampton will face next if he retains his WBO ‘interim’ title in Belfast on August 18th.

There were plenty of names mentioned over the past month for ‘The Jackal’s’ fight at Windsor Park before Luke Jackson was eventually officially confirmed at a press conference in Belfast yesterday.

However, promoter Frank Warren is adamant there will be no ‘messing around’ post-Windsor and Frampton will fight IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington before the year is out.

Frampton is essentially mandatory for Óscar Valdez and his WBO featherweight title, but Warren is adamant Warrington and an IBF title tilt will be next – even if the currently injured Top Rank’s Valdez makes a full recovery from a broken jaw, which was inflicted by Scott Quigg, before December.

Valdez had stated that he wanted to go straight into a fight with Frampton – but his team have said different. Warren, though, is fully focused on an in-house fight in December at the Manchester Arena.

“If he [Frampton] comes through this – and I am sure he will – then Warrington will be the next fight. There will be no messing around whether Valdez is around or not, Warrington will be the next fight,” outlined Warren who meets with the Leeds fighter today to discuss whether he will go straight into a Frampton fight in December or take a fight in September first.

“Carl has to get through [Jackson] and anything can happen in boxing.”

A world title fight for the dream venue clash was impossible with the likes of Leo Santa Cruz and Gary Russell Jr were tied down to Summer dates, Valdez was injured and August proved to soon for Warrington.

Kid Galahad had called for the fight while Scott Quigg was mentioned too. However, Warren revealed Frampton’s former foe priced himself out of the fight.

“Carl is the interim champion we tried very hard to get the fight on with Valdez. Unfortunately Valdez isn’t available to fight he is still unfit and hasn’t be declared ready to box yet and we are not in a position – because he has time under WBO rules – for Carl to be declared champion.”

“It was a bit frustrating. We had other fighters there we tried to get over, but a lot of fighters were unavailable. One name that was mentioned was Scott Quigg, but the money he asked for made it impossible to make that fight.”

When 2012 Olympian Jackson was reported to have signed the reaction was mixed but, while the promoter is confident Frampton will emerge victorious, he believes he has secured a worthy opponent.

Warren warns Frampton will have to be top of his game in the year of the upset.

“There have been a few upsets this year, [Caleb] Truax and [James] DeGale was a big upset, Jeff Horn beat [Manny] Pacquiao even the fight between [Daigo] Higa and [Cristofer] Rosales and that was an upset and Paddy [Barnes] got his fight because of that upset.”

“Then you have Selby-Warrington, for me that wasn’t an upset but for some people it was.”

“Anything can happen in boxing, Carl came back in a tough fight, much tougher than I expected in Garcia and it was a tough fight. I know anybody going to fight for a World title has a bit about them and comes to fight.”

“I am sure Luke will do that, but I believe in Carl and I am hoping we he can come through this fight so we can set the Warrington fight up.”

Warren also assured the card, which already has a World title fight for Paddy Barnes and an appearance for Tyson Fury confirmed, will be stacked with mouth-watering contests.

“It’s a privilege to be apart of this promotion. We have a bit of history in the making we have a fantastic card, there will be a couple of tasty fights added to the card which I think will whet everybody’s appetite. There are really some tough fights there.”

“Carl obviously fighting someone who is ranked #5 in the WBO.  We have Luke Jackson he was Australia Olympic captain in London 2012 and room mated with Jeff Horn,” he added before discussing Paddy Barnes title tilt versus Rosales.

“We have a great fight in the WBC title fight. I think it’s Paul Weir that has done it quicker, but an Irish fighter has never done it as quick. He has his hands full it will be a tough night, but I believe in him and hopefully he can make history on the night.”