Who cares? – Carl Frampton discusses Windsor opponents
Carl Frampton [25(14)-1(0)] has been picky with regard to opponents of late.
The Belfast featherweight frustrated promoter Frank Warren by demanding to come back after a tough year with a bout against the rough and ready Horacio Garcia before pushing for the biggest possible name in Nonito Donaire who he defeated on Saturday night.
However, at this moment in time. ‘The Jackal’ is more about the where rather than the who in terms of his next fight.
The 31-year-old claimed the WBO interim title to set up a dream Windsor Park Summer date and move next in line for champion Oscar Valdez with victory on top of an entertaining BT Sport bill at the SSE Odyssey Arena.
However, with Top Rank’s Valdez out injured and rumoured to be considering a move up to super featherweight, it looks increasing likely he won’t man the away corner in at the Stadium come August.
Warren will investigate the situation this week and, if current champion Valdez isn’t an option for Frampton’s next clash, he will be pushing for his charge to be instated as the WBO’s world champion at the weight.
This would lead to a title ‘defence’ versus someone from the WBO rankings – someone of the ilk of Mark Magsayo or Sakaria Lukas – at the Northern Ireland national stadium.
The Tiger’s Bay fighter, who is adamant he can’t be defeated in Windsor, has admirably said if that is the case he won’t call himself champion until he secures victory with the title on the line in the ring – but, at the present moment in time, isn’t too concerned with who the other man in the ring actually is.
The winner of IBF title clash between Lee Selby and Josh Warrington is also a mooted option – but again looks increasingly unlikely considering the timeframe and the fact Warren wants to set that up as a unification fight.
“I’d love a Valdez fight but I don’t want to be picky,” said Frampton, who was more about Windsor than any potential foe after his impressive victory.
“I just want a world title fight and I want a big fight at Windsor Park,” he told the BBC.
“Valdez, I’d love Valdez, Selby, Warrington – I’d love any of those.”
“Leo Santa Cruz isn’t going to happen because he’s fighting Abner Mares in June. Listen, I want a world title and that’s it.”
There have also been some suggestions another former foe – Scott Quigg – may be ideal in terms of profile and selling tickets, but he would come in on the back of a defeat to Valdez.
Frampton, too, has been extremely critical of the Englishman, whom he outpointed in 2016, arguing that Quigg essentially cheated when missing weight for his Valdez fight.
Regardless of the opponent, the popular feather is looking forward to what could prove to be a historic Windsor Park night and the venue rather than the opponent seemed to be at the forefront of his mind after his Donaire win.
