Luke Jackson feels overweight Carl Frampton is overlooking him

While Carl Frampton claims he is in the shape of his career, upcoming opponent Luke Jackson believes ‘The Jackal’ is overweight and overlooking him.

Ahead of their Windsor Park showdown for Frampton’s WBO interim featherweight belt on August 18th, the Belfast fighter has noted how camp is going well and that he started training at a lighter weight than usual.

READ: Carl Frampton training update

Jackson, who is currently in camp in his native Australia, sees things differently, however.

The Tasmanian has been watching clips of Frampton [25(14)-1(0)], and sees the 31-year-old as being heavy and sluggish. In addition, Jackson has noted the frequency of Frampton’s engagements outside of boxing and his regular commutes between Belfast and Manchester, balancing family and training.

The outspoken Aussie said that “I’ve seen some footage of Carl’s training. He still looks sluggish and bit heavy. It seems he is always on a plane going to places.”

“They’re overlooking me, I’m just Luke Jackson from Australia who they are supposed to bowl over.”

“I’m here in Sydney working my arse off. I can cause an upset and that is what I plan on doing.”

The 33-year-old Jackson [16(7)-0], who steps up to world level for the first time versus Frampton, is undergoing his longest training camp which will include periods of time-zone acclimatisation in Dubai and Belfast.

The WBO #5 described how “I am having a full eight weeks with Billy [Hussein, trainer] and had two weeks of conditioning in Tasmania before coming up to Sydney.”

“Everything is good. My weight is right and everything is ahead of schedule.”

“I have been doing 12 round sparring sessions and sometimes we have had to cut to ten because they couldn’t stay with me.”

“I always train hard, but when you are fighting a guy of Carl’s stature I have to be better in every area.”

“I am pushing hard in the gym and I think it’s gonna show. It’s showing in my training and Billy is very happy with me.”

Whether Jackson’s comments are his genuine beliefs or if he is just trying to get under the skin of Frampton remains to be seen.

Regardless, it has certainly added a bit more needle to an already tetchy build-up – something which Frampton in the past has responded to positively in the ring.

Jackson, a London Olympian, previously took aim at Frampton’s amateur achievements (READ HERE).