Age an advantage claims Frampton ahead of clash with young Jaguar Gutierrez
24 year old Andres Gutierrez [35(25)-1(0)-1] and his are looking at Saturday’s clash with Carl Frampton in Belfast through the ‘tired old lion v young hungry lion’ lens.
Six years younger than the overwhelming home favourite, there are some that believe ‘Jaguarcito’ could be too fresh for Frampton when they face off in a WBC featherweight title eliminator at the SSE Odyssey Arena, live on Channel 5.
For Frampton [23(14)-1(0)] though, the 30 milestone is overplayed and he reasons that “30 used to be old in this sport, but not anymore.”
“I am still feeling good. I feel I am improved and my engine is good. At 24 I would have struggled to do 12 rounds, at 30 I am strong and I can do 12 rounds no problem.”
“The age factor means more experience and, although he has had more fights than me, I have been involved in some big fights and I have been in with more experienced fighters than he has.”
“I have been at the very top of this game for a number of years now and I think that will be the real difference.”
Frampton is complimentary to his upcoming foe, and admitted that “he is a good fighter, a hard puncher. He has more knockout wins than I have had fights.”
“He will be good and he will be up for it. He has a good tight defence which will be hard to break through, but I believe if I am performing and if I am form I am the best featherweight in the World.”
“If I want to prove that I have to perform on Saturday night.”
The fight is Frampton’s first since his WBA featherweight title rematch loss to Leo Santa Cruz, and ‘The Jackal’ is looking to prove himself once again following his first career defeat – a defeat he admits he struggled initially to cope with.
Frampton outlined how “I am ready to go. It took me a while to get over that defeat but when I sat down and looked at everything I got beat by a three weight world champion, I had a bad night and he boxed out of his skin. At that, it was still close enough.”
“I think the right man won the fight, but when you put everything into perspective it’s not a bad thing. Really if I keep winning and he keeps winning it sets it up for the next one.”
“I want to prove that the last performance was just a blip and I have so much more to give. Sparring in the last two weeks of camp is anything to go by I feel I am getting better. It’s about carrying that into the ring on Saturday.”
“I want to get back to what I do best and my best attribute I believe is my footwork and I have neglected them the last couple of fights.I want to get back to that, but we will see what he brings. I am expecting a certain type of fight from him, but he may change it up like Santa Cruz did in his last fight, but what ever he does I will be ready for.”
