High-stakes homecoming for Frampton – “My career potentially is over if I don’t win this fight”

It’s not a massive Scott Quigg PPV-style grudge match, three-weight World champion Leo Santa Cruz doesn’t stand in the opposite corner, nor does a determined-for-revenge World champion like Kiko Martinez or even an obnoxious challenger like Chris Avalos.

However, Carl Frampton notes that the pressure for his homecoming clash this coming Saturday is massive.

Although he is being sold as a big-punching, hungry young operator – on paper Andres Gutierrez [35(25)-1(0)-1] doesn’t seem as daunting a prospect as some of Frampton’s former foes.

Nevertheless, ‘The Jackal’ suggests there is as much if a different kind of pressure going into his homecoming clash this Saturday as his massive fights with the likes of Martinez, Quigg and Santa Cruz.

The Mexican doesn’t overly worry the former two-weight World champion, indeed Frampton claims Gutierrez is is as tailor made for him as the ‘f**k you’ suit was for Conor McGregor.

The pressure comes from the fact that Frampton believes defeat to such a fighter could spell the end of his career.

Losing to a fighter not known by many outside the boxing family, Frampton feels, could prove very damaging to his chances of ensuring the many big fights and nights he has mapped out for his future.

“There is pressure on me in this fight because it’s a must win and I think my career potentially is over if I don’t win this fight,” Frampton [23(14)-1(0)] explained at today’s public workout at the Victoria Square Shopping Centre in Belfast.

“That brings pressure in itself.”

Frampton is no longer one to overlook an opponent after his Alejandro Gonzalez scare two years ago. The 30 year old, who always sports a determined and steely look in a Belfast fight week, can be ready for some verbal sparring and has no problem using press conferences to let his opponent know who is boss, but at the same time is always respectful.

He is aware of what the knockout artist brings to the table, but is honest enough to suggest that when God created Andres Gutierrez he made Carl Frampton’s perfect opponent.

“I am not taking this guy for granted and I know one single punch can change a fight and he has the power to do that. He is a hard punching, young, hungry kid so I need to be focused and switched on from start to finish, but I believe I have the tools to do that.”

“I think this guy is made for me if I am being honest, but if you wanted to build a fighter that was the best opponent for me you would build Andres Gutierrez. Maybe with a bit less punching power, but I think he is made for me to show what I have got.”