Carl Frampton fires back following Josh Warrington KO prediction
Carl Frampton [26(15)-1(0)] has laughed off suggestions from upcoming opponent Josh Warrington that he will score a stoppage over ‘The Jackal’.
The English boxer puts his IBF featherweight title on the line versus Frampton at the Manchester Arena on Saturday December 22nd, live on BT Sport pay-per-view and doesn’t believe the fight will go the distance.
However, for suggesting this, Frampton has fired back at Warrington and poked fun at the champion’s perceived lack of power.
The Leeds fan favourite was criticised by Frampton for not taking out ‘a frail’ Lee Selby when winning the red belt at Elland Road back in May.
Warrington [27(6)-0] suggested his father and trainer, Sean O’Hagan, advised him to be cautious in what was, at that stage, the biggest fight of his career and, as a result, he claims, didn’t go for the finish.
The world champion warns he will have a different mindset heading into his first defence in Manchester three days shy of Christmas.
In a press release sent out by Frank Warren, promoter of both fighters, Warrington outlined his belief that he can score a stoppage over the Belfast native.
The Leeds puncher noted that “I don’t like making predictions and I see a Josh Warrington win, but I am going to go for a stoppage this time. If I see it I am going to go for it.”
“Coming out of the Selby fight, if I was going to criticise myself or kick myself, I wish I had just pressed on. This time around, if I see the opportunity I am just going to go for it.”
Warrington isn’t a noted puncher with just six knockouts from 27 fights – and few are predicting he has the power to hurt the Belfast favourite.
That said, he has scored two stoppages in his last four fights, with inside-the-distance wins over Ireland’s Pajo Hyland and Olympian Dennis Ceylan.
27-year-old Warrington isn’t predicting a one-punch blast-out on December 22nd but does believe he could turn the screw and force a stoppage.
‘The Tooth Fairy’ outlined how “it is going to be high octane with plenty of energy in there with two fantastic styles. I think the fight might change patterns in terms of feeling each other out and being edgy, then busy in spells, but I can see nothing else than me taking over from the second half.”
Frampton didn’t take too kindly to this suggestion and responded via Twitter.
First the 31-year-old jokingly suggested that Warrington has been wearing pillows on his hands in his fights thus far before drawing attention to the Yorkshire boxer’s 22.22% knockout rate. Frampton’s, by comparison, is 55.55%.
He may take the pillows off then https://t.co/Ok55lAm2fV
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) November 5, 2018
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) November 5, 2018
It’s the latest social media exchange between the pair ahead of their box office fight.
Previously the two had sniped at each other as fight night approaches.
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) September 17, 2018
beat by Villa that day and you losing your title. Doubt they'll be singing https://t.co/6BXtboqJhT
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) October 23, 2018
Oooooooooo Fiery Carlos ….Nasty man….
I LIKE IT … a load of shit like but …LETS HAVE IT … See you 22nd …
#ANDSTILL! https://t.co/ib7a6uFykX
— Josh Warrington (@J_Warrington) October 23, 2018
