Carl Frampton questions Josh Warrington’s ‘unbeaten’ record
Carl Frampton [26(15)-1(0)] takes on an undefeated world champion this weekend but ‘The Jackal’ doesn’t believe his opponent’s record is entiely truthful.
The Belfast boxer challenges IBF featherweight titlist Josh Warrington [27(6)-0] at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night where he will be looking to inflict a first official defeat on the Leeds fighter.
However, Frampton feels that Warrington was beaten by one of their common opponents last year.
The 31-year-old argues that Kiko Martinez should have been given the win against Warrington when they fought in May 2017 and that this is one of a number of holes in the Englishman’s record.
Frampton also points to Warrington’s career-best title win over Lee Selby, feeling the enormity of the upset has to be taken with a pinch of salt due to the Welshman’s difficulty making weight.
In his final weekly column for the Sunday Life before the BT Sport Box Office clash, Frampton stated “lets look at the facts – he beat a malnourished Lee Selby. The guy wasn’t even just weight-drained, he looked awful on the scales, and when he got into the fight he had nothing left and that’s why he has jumped from featherweight to lightweight.”
“Then you look at the fight he had with Kiko Martinez in May 2017. After watching it again, I believe Kiko won it on points. It was such a close battle and Kiko was someone I beat really convincingly back in 2014 in our World title fight.”
Frampton won his IBF super bantamweight belt versus Martinez in September 2014, dominating on the scorecards to follow up a 2013 European title knockout win over the Spaniard.
The Tiger’s Bay boxer is genuine in his questioning of Warrington’s win having stated his disagreement with the result at the time.
Back then, Frampton said “Kiko hasn’t got much left in the tank for world level but he still pushed Warrington all the way and I actually had him just edging it last weekend.”
It’s the latest barb in a surprisingly tense build-up between the pair.
Frampton hasn’t been impressed with some of Warrington’s talk over the past few weeks, from predicting that he would stop the 2016 Fighter of the Year to suggesting that he is past his prime.
However, the Irishman notes his better-than-ever results in pre-fight testing and is promising that he will be bringing his fourth world title home this weekend.
Frampton noted how “of course, Warrington is saying that this is his time and that I’m past my best. He is taking a lot of his belief from the fact that he beat Lee Selby to win the title and fair play to him for doing it.”
“I know that Warrington is going to be very fit and I’m expecting a high work rate from him but whatever he does I will do it better. He can believe what he wants, the title will come back to Belfast, and what a way to celebrate Christmas with the belt under the tree.”
“Lee Selby was a severely malnourished fighter.”
“He’s taking confidence from that fight and I’m asking why has he not got rid of him?”
“Anywhere outside of Leeds and Kiko Martinez wins the fight.”@RealCFrampton goes in on Josh Warrington’s record… #WarringtonFrampton pic.twitter.com/UfAmx01JXs
— Warrington v Frampton on BT Sport Box Office (@BTSportBoxing) December 16, 2018
