“I’ve been waiting for this for many years” – Best-ever Andres Gutierrez targets Frampton shock

He was in the frame in 2014.

He was almost chosen in 2015.

Now, in 2017, Andres Gutierrez [35(25)-1(0)-1] will finally get to share a ring with Carl Frampton.

‘El Jaguar’ takes on ‘The Jackal’ in a WBC featherweight title eliminator tomorrow night (Saturday 29th) at the SSE Odyssey Arena, live on Channel 5.

Gutierrez has been on the Cyclone radar a long time, dating back to his days as a super bantamweight. The Queretaro fighter was also in the WBC rankings back then when Frampton was chasing champion Leo Santa Cruz – before rematching Kiko Martinez for the IBF 122lbs belt.

It would be said afterwards that Santa Cruz had avoided the challenge of Gutierrez – who was then strongly considered as the opponent for Frampton’s almost disastrous U.S. debut in EL Paso.

Now ranked #8 by the WBC at 126lbs, he finally gets his fight with #1-ranked Frampton in a world title eliminator in the Belfast boxer’s backyard.

Gutierrez described how “I’ve been waiting for this for many years. I’m not going to let it pass,”

“I am ready to go into the spotlight of a big arena.”

“I know I am a visitor here in Belfast and the fans are going to be noisy but I will have 100 million Mexicans back home who will be behind me and willing me to win this fight.”

Gutierrez has an impressive looking record, although has not mixed it with the same level of opposition as Frampton. However it has been proved in the past not to underestimate unheralded Mexicans, who often raise their game and increase their preparations for big fights with more recognisable names.

Jamie Conlan against Junior Granados was one example, and Frampton against Alejandro Gonzalez is an even more pertinent one.

It certainly seems to be a similar story with Gutierrez, and Frampton looks set to be faced with the best version of the 24 year old tomorrow. Between linking up with new trainer Jorge Barrera, to a high-altitude training camp, no stone has been left unturned.

Gutierrez outlined how “we’re ready for this fight, it’s been really tough training over the past two months. The first month was in high altitude training and then in Mexico City, which is also high altitude”

“It’s been really hard keeping it up, but now because of this I’m confident of being able to win this fight, all this training has brought me here.”

“Due to this hard training, it wasn’t hard to lose weight and we’re ready and confident about this fight. I am right on the weight and ready for this fight.”