Carl Frampton backing Ryan Burnett to beat “past his best” Lee Haskins
The time has finally come and this week Ryan Burnett [16(9)-0] will challenge for a world title in his native Belfast.
The North Belfast puncher will face IBF champion Lee Haskins over twelve at the SSE Odyssey Arena on Saturday June 10th, live on Sky Sports.
Burnett is looking to become Ireland and Belfast’s only current world champion – and the city’s most recent champ believes he has a great chance
Two-weight world champ Carl Frampton, a former training partner of Burnett at Holy Family GG, views Haskins as being past his best and thinks the Bristolian is ripe for the taking.
Writing in his weekly column for the Sunday Life, Frampton [23(14)-1(0)] outlined how “Ryan Burnett will never have a better chance to become a world champion when he faces Lee Haskins for the IBF bantamweight title at the SSE Arena this Saturday night.”
“Haskins has been a good fighter but Ryan is getting him at the right time. He’s had close fights with Ivan Morales and Stuart Hall and now seems to be past his best.”
While ‘The Jackal’ believes that Burnett is in the driving seat, he also wants to see the Adam Booth-trained bantam put on statement-making display.
Frampton admitted that “for me, it’s not just about Ryan winning the world title but putting in a dominant performance and winning in style – I’d really like to see him being more spiteful the way he was as an amateur.”
Frampton himself is currently preparing for his return to the ring following losing his WBA featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz in January. The Tigers Bay man looks set to return in a stadium fight at Windsor Park, with a date and opponent awaited.
The Burnett-Haskins undercard at present comprises of an Irish cruiserweight title fight between Luke Watkins and Ian Tims, Feargal McCrory v Paul Holt, James Tennyson v Ben Jones, Paul Hyland v Adam Dingsdale and appearances from Carl McDonald, Sean Magee, Matt Wilton, Tyrone McCullagh, Padraig McCrory, Paddy Gallagher, and the return of Mike Perez.
Tickets for ‘Belfast Boy’ on June 10th at the SSE Odyssey Arena cost £30, £40, £60, £100, and £150 (VIP), and can be bought from the boxers involved or HERE.
