Date and Venue confirmed for first Frampton defence

IT’S official Carl Frampton will make the first defence of his IBF world super-bantamweight title against American Chris Avalos in Belfast on 28 February.

As expected, the bout will be staged at the Odyssey Arena a venue were Frampton has enjoyed huge support and success previously.

Unbeaten Frampton, 27, beat former champion Kiko Martinez on points to secure the title in September at the Titanic Quarter last September and takes on the mandatory challenger in the Spring.

Frampton suffered hand damage when dominating the teak tough Martinez meaning a fight that the IBF hoped would take place in December now takes place in late February.

Californian Avalos, 24, stopped Yasutaka Ishimoto in May to become the IBF’s mandatory challenger for the title and since then he has beaten Jose Cen Torres to take his career statistics to 25 wins and two losses.

Both fighters cut confident figures at today’s press conference with Avalos predicting victory in six round and Frampton promising Irish fight fans he would win convincingly.

The American’s two losses have come against Christopher Martin and former IBF strap holder Jonatan Romero and his defeat of Ishimoto in China is the only time he has fought outside the United States.

Frampton is on a run of 19 bouts undefeated and is reigning IBF super bantamweight champion of the World.