Frampton fan Warrington admits he has been keeping an eye on ‘The Jackal’

Mutual respect has been a big theme of the Warrington Frampton press tour so far.

Both fighters aknowledging each others postive traits as punchers and people.

However, IBF world featherweight champion Warrington took it a step further this week as he admitted to being a fan of the man he defends his title against in Manchester on December 22.

The Leeds admits he has enjoyed watching the Belfast ticket sellers career, but took special interest when ‘The Jackal’ moved up to featherweight.

“When Carl moved up to featherweight and all my pals said he is coming for me now, I knew he had one hell of a fanbase and is one great fighter. I said yesterday in the head-to-head that I have enjoyed watching Carl over the years and I’ve almost been a bit of a fan watching him in some of his fights,” he said in London.

“As soon as someone comes into your division you start keeping tabs on them and keeping your eye out for fights down the line.”

A fight with Frampton was never meant to happen for Warrington. According to the bookies, the vast majority of pundits and fight fans outside Leeds Lee Selby was meant to beat him this Summer. That then would pave the way for a Selby Frampton world title bout.

However, Warrington upset the odds and the applecart much to the delight of promoter Frank Warren. After defeating the ‘Welsh Mayweather’ nobody would have argued if Warrington took a routine mandatory defence, but the popular super feather claims he wants to prove he is the best at the weight and to do that he feels he has to beat Frampton.

“Obviously after beating Lee there were options to have steady voluntaries, but there aren’t easy fights at world level because everybody wants to be where you are.

“I treat everybody with the same mindset and I train my b*llocks off just like I do for every fight and work as hard as I can because it means that much to me, winning and going forward.

“When the Carl fight came along it wetted the appetite and as a champion you want to prove yourself as the best.

“I am ranked No.2 behind Carl and I believe I am No.1, simple as that really. Boxing fans want to see this and boxing is thriving in this day and age.”

“Some big fights aren’t happening because there are a few out there still digging in their heels, but I am a fighting man and I want to prove myself against the best.”