Carl Frampton’s next opponent CONFIRMED

Frank Warren has confirmed Carl Frampton‘s next opponent.

The veteran promoter was speaking this morning at a press conference for the homecoming of WBO middleweight champion Billy Joe Saunders card in London, and let out some news about ‘The Jackal’ whilst he was there.

As previously revealed, Frampton [24(14)-1(0)] will make his return in Belfast on Saturday April 7th – and Warren has confirmed that Filipino front-runner Nonito Donaire will indeed be the opponent.

The four-weight world champion had noted on social media that he was in talks with Frampton’s team, and these look to have been successful with Warren describing it as a “done deal.”

The fight will not be a world title fight. 35 year old Donaire [38(24)-4(1)] is ranked 4th with the WBC, while Frampton is ranked 2nd, as well as 3rd with both the WBA and IBF, and 4th with the WBO.

Interestingly, both boxers were consensus Fighter of the Year over the last decade, with Donaire taking the gong for 2012 while Frampton picked it up last year.

Both suffered in the aftermath of their award-winning years. Donaire was subsequently beaten in a unification by Guillermo Rigondeaux in April of 2013, while Frampton lost his WBA title in a rematch with Leo Santa Cruz in January just gone.

The Belfast 30 year old made his return to the ring last month in what was his first fight under a new team, defeating Mexican Horacio Garcia.

A veteran of 16 world title fights – Donaire last boxed in September in Texas, his first fight after parting with long-time promoter Top Rank, where he defeated Ruben Garcia Hernandez for the WBC Silver title.

A venue or ticket details are yet to be announced for the bill – however it can be assumed that the fight will take place in the SSE Odyssey Arena.