“My Opinion’s Changed” – Carl Frampton WON’T be retiring

In his strongest suggestion yet, Carl Frampton [26(15)-2(0)] has hinted that he will continue boxing.

The Belfast featherweight’s future looked uncertain following his loss to IBF champion Josh Warrington last month but he is meeting with promoter Frank Warren today and seems likely to continue fighting.

Immediately after the fight in Manchester, Frampton had stated that he needed time to discuss his options with his family.

‘The Jackal’ would later state that rematches with Warrington and WBA champ Leo Santa Cruz could tempt him to continue on while Top Rank boss Bob Arum has said recently that he wants WBO champ Oscar Valdez to defend against Frampton.

The 31-year-old admits that he had essentially retired following his second career defeat but has since reconsidered.

Frampton revealed to Press Association Sport that “after the fight I was done.”

“Immediately after the fight, ‘That’s me, I’m never going to box again’, so much so I said to my wife ‘I’m done, I don’t want to do this anymore’.”

“But things have changed; my opinion’s changed.”

Frampton, who also noted that he suffered an accidental leg injury in the opening round, feels it was underperformance and underestimation which led to the loss in the inaugural domestic BT Sport Box Office event.

The Ulsterman outlined how “the fight wasn’t how it was meant to go; I didn’t carry the game plan.

“People who wouldn’t have any financial benefit from it have told me I’ve plenty left and I thought. ‘Do you know what? It was a fucking bad night’.”

“The weight was okay; it was something else, and I still know I’ve got enough left.”

“If I’d been getting beaten up in sparring that may have been time, but I sparred well and was in good shape going into the fight, but I didn’t carry out the game plan.”

Following his rematch loss to Leo Santa Cruz, Frampton had three fights (plus his cancelled clash with Andres Gutierrez) before facing Warrington.

The two-weight champion doesn’t want to do similar again and his return would be dependent on a near instant title fight – with Valdez during the summer definitely fitting the bill.

READ: Arum wants to make Valdez v Frampton

Frampton explained how “I want to be walking into a big fight again or the premise of one fight and then a big fight, but I’m not prepared to go around the houses again.”

“The last thing I want is Horacio Garcia, Nonito Donaire, Luke Jackson to get a shot at a world title again.”