Back on Monday we brought you predictions for Carl Frampton v Scott Quigg from 70 Irish fighters. Today it’s the turn of the Irish boxing writers fraternity to have their say, and again there is a strong consensus over whose hand will be raised on Saturday evening.

Steve Wellings – Boxing News
Ever since this fight was first mentioned, right through to the early stages of negotiations, I strongly favoured Frampton by a relatively easy knockout. I must admit I’ve slightly wavered on that and think Carl will prevail but on points and with a tougher time of it than first expected.Carl will more than likely box off the back foot, looking to use his superior skills. His footwork and punch timing are two extremely valuable assets and he will have success if he can utilise them effectively

Quigg’s much-maligned trainer Joe Gallagher can be a clever tactician so I’m sure he’ll have his man physically and mentally prepared. Perhaps Scott will surprise us and box off the back foot? Maybe he’ll come out throwing loads of body shots and look to impose his size? Is Quigg still perceived as chinny?

As with any big fight there are a whole range of questions that can only be answered in one place. Inside the ring, on Saturday night. Hopefully both men are fit, focused, on the weight and ready to give 100 per cent, unhindered. Whatever happens let’s hope for a conclusive, fair and definitive ending to this rivalry so the winner can move on to bigger and better things.

Frampton on points for me.

Kevin Byrne – Irish Sun
Tough fight to call for obvious reasons but there’s no reason just yet to change on what was our initial instinct – that Frampton will win this fight.

Quigg will be dangerous in his attacks to the body and if Frampton is static and allows him inside, the Bury man can hurt him with that left hook to the ribs, plus he can also change it up to do damage with his right. However we haven’t seen a fighter attack Quigg from the angles Frampton will be coming at him from. He’ll be using feints to get Quigg to drop his hands and score and I can see that being the key to victory.

Composure will be important for both men and you get the sense that the man from Belfast may have the edge here. If it’s enough to earn Frampton a points or a stoppage win, we shall see. If Frampton can box aggressively in bursts while staying on his toes (and keeping up his energy levels high by avoiding Quigg’s body work), then he ought to win this fight, perhaps inside the distance.

Paul Gibson – The Guardian
I genuinely believe Carl is just that little bit better in every department and I expect something similar to Frampton-Martinez II with Carl controlling the vast majority of the exchanges.

I believe Kiko was resigned to losing that night and was happy just to go the distance, but Quigg is more likely to force things and go out swinging. That’ll make it more competitive but if Scott pushes too recklessly the ending could then be more Frampton-Martinez I with a stoppage around the ninth.

Eamonn Carr – Evening Herald
Both men can bang and both are skilled. Could go the distance if no one makes a critical mistake. But, if Frampton keeps it tidy, I expect his ring craft and movement will frustrate Quigg. In what’s likely to be a fierce contest, Frampton needs to remain composed if he’s to win on points.

David Mohan – Belfast Media Group
If asked on the afternoon of July 18, 2015 who would win a meeting between Frampton and Quigg, it would nearly have been a unanimous vote in favour of ‘The Jackal’.

The events of that night, with Frampton tasting the canvas twice against Alejandro Gonzalez Jnr and Quigg’s hugely impressive second round win over Kiko Martinez have certainly clouded judgements.

Some now feel that Frampton is vulnerable with Quigg’s size, stamina and punching power major weapons coming into Saturday’s long-awaited showdown. However, for me, Frampton’s superior boxing skills keep him ahead despite Quigg’s massive seven inch reach advantage.

On Saturday, there is every chance that both men will have some challenging moments and be forced to adjust. Frampton can certainly do that but can Quigg? Maybe, but I’m not so sure.

Pittsburgh referee, Ernie Sharif will have a big role to play, but the American has bags of experience and hopefully will not get caught up in the emotion of the occasion and make a rash decision to stop the fight too early either way. Irish fans need not be reminded of a similar scenario in the Manchester Arena nearly five years ago!

If cool heads prevail, and I see no reason why they won’t especially with Frampton who is used to huge, high-pressure occasions, he will produce a big performance against an opponent he has been chasing for over five years.

How I see this one playing out is Frampton boxing his way into a lead on the cards, forcing Quigg to chase the fight and perhaps take some risks. Frampton’s power could then come into play late. I think it will. Frampton by stoppage in the double digit rounds.

Sean McGoldrick – Sunday World
Not alone is the Carl Frampton-Scott Quigg showdown one of the most eagerly anticipated title fights for a long time, it is also one of the most difficult to predict. No wonder, there won’t be a spare seat in the Manchester Arena on Saturday night.

It’s not just that there are two world belts at stake. This is the classical Ireland v England sporting contest with the top rated bantamweights in the two counties putting their unbeaten records on the line. In the case of Quigg his record is slightly tainted by the fact that two of his last nine contests ended in draws.

The signs are too that the fight has become personal – particularly between the respective trainers Shane McGuigan and Joe Gallagher. Anger though is the one emotion that neither fighter can afford to bring into the ring with them. This will be a night for a totally clinical approach to what is likely to be a tactical showdown.

Judged on their most recent fights the form book favours Quigg. On the night last July that Frampton was dropped twice in the first round on his US debut by the relatively unknown Mexican Alejandro Gonzalez, Quigg was making short work of Frampton’s old woe, Spain’s Kiko Martinez dispatching him early in the second round.

Martinez lasted nine rounds in his first clash with Quigg in 2013 while their World title fight in Belfast in September 2014 went the distance with Frampton winning it on an unanimous decision.

Furthermore, Quigg is two years younger than his opponent and is three inches taller, yet it appears that making the 55kg weight limit is less of a struggle for him than it is for Frampton, who still displayed his resolute spirit in El Paso last summer when he recovered from those two early knock downs to win by a unanimous points decision against Gonzalez.

Quigg will surely be tempted to test Frampton’s jaw early on but the Belfast boxer ought to know what to expect. Regardless of the outcome there will probably be a rematch before the end of the year – possibly back in Belfast – but if Frampton survives Quigg’s early onslaught he could grind out a points win over the Bury native. But don’t bet your house on it!

Andy Watters – Irish News
I see Frampton winning, maybe by a stoppage around rounds 9 or 10.

I don’t think he really has weight issues although he did get it wrong against Gonzalez in Texas so I expect him to be bang on the weight for Saturday night and in ferocious shape.

Quigg isn’t the one-dimensional fighter he’s being made out to be and I’d expect him to try to land a big shot in the first round. He might have some success early on but any risks he takes will cost him and Frampton should be capable of taking anything he can muster and he’ll gradually wear him down.

As the fight develops Frampton usually gets stronger so I see him taking the early zip out of Quigg and making him pay when he leaves himself open trying to land bombs.

It has all the makings of a cracking fight between two men at the peak of their powers. A big right hand from Quigg early on could rip up the script, but I’ll take Frampton to come out on top.

Gavan Casey – Balls.ie
Has a phrase ever dominated the lead-up to a world title fight to the extent that ‘boxing IQ’ has this one? After all, both boxers, not just Carl Frampton, are students of the game; you need look no further than the timing of the right hand which decked Kiko Martinez to work out that Scott Quigg is ‘book-smart’ in boxing terms.

Yes, ‘The Jackal’ touched canvas for the first two times in his career last July, not minutes after Quigg had dispatched of his former opponent in record time. Yes, he seemed cumbersome, ponderous, in the opening four rounds of his contest with the game Alejandro Gonzalez. But Frampton is one of boxing’s most acute observationists; he gradually manoeuvred inside Gonzalez’s rangey right paw, seizing control of the fight by the halfway mark.

I expect something similar on Saturday, with the more powerful Quigg testing Frampton early. But once the Belfast man attunes to the timing of Quigg’s advances, his superior footwork and unrivalled shot selection will see him consistently beat the hometown fighter to the punch. If Scott Quigg is book-smart, Carl Frampton is Will Hunting. ‘The Jackal’ takes the decision in Manchester.

Cormac Campbell – Former Editor irish-boxing.com
When Frampton tipped the scales ahead of his 2010 Ulster Hall bow against Yuri Vornin he did so at 123lb 8oz. He looked big at the weight then and he looks bigger now. Following his last fight against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr he made little secret that he was tight at the weight. Forget about fighters getting under each other’s skin, forget about whose back yard the fight is in. I believe Saturday’s outcome depends almost entirely on just how comfortable the Jackal is at 122.

If the weight has come off ‘easily’ then I believe he wins comfortably, by unanimous decision or mid to late round KO. I simply believe there is more guile in his game. If not…then the result is likely to be entirely different, with Quigg to win by late rounds stoppage.

The natural question would be, if he is so tight at the weight then why not simply move up to feather? With a reach of 62” and standing 5’5” he would be at considerable disadvantage against the 9st division’s leading lights.

For example, Leo Santa Cruz would have a 2 ½” height and 9” reach advantage whilst Lee Selby would be 3 ½” taller with a 7” reach advantage.That coupled with the fact that the public appetite for Quigg v Frampton, building for years now, means the financial rewards for boiling down once more far outweigh the perceived risk.

I’m going for Frampton, but I have my concerns.

Jonny Stapleton – irish-boxing.com Editor-in-Chief
If asked for a prediction last Summer I would have told you Frampton is going to get paid a career high purse for the easiest of big name fights available to him. Back then I was of the belief Frampton would register an early stoppage win.

My opinion has changed somewhat since. The contrasting performances on July 18 hasn’t been the catalyst for a personal shift in view point. I still believe Frampton will win, but I don’t think it will come in the manner I first thought.

While Quigg showed he packs a punch against Kiko Martinez he looked novice-like in round one and I honestly think he benefited from over confidence from the Spaniard. On the other hand ‘The Jackal’ will learn from the trouble he faced and overcame in Texas.

However, after seeing how Quigg hurt Martinez and coming into the fight on the back of being dropped I think Frampton will respect the Bury man’s power more and as a result will be more Raul Hirales than Chris Avalos in his approach.

Knowing what is at stake, Frampton will be more focused on winning than on making a massive statement and will make it a clash of skill as he knows it’s the one area he is far superior to Quigg in.

While Quigg might match him in terms of guts, determination and power he hasn’t the spacial awareness or foot work of Frampton. I can see Frampton outpointing the Matchroom fighter working on the back foot to bank rounds early on. He may have to ship some big body shots at certain points and a much-improved Quigg will have some success in a tense fight, but I am going for Frampton win on points.

Joe O’Neill – irish-boxing.com Assistant Editor
Due to Quigg’s late start in boxing,this fight has become tougher and tougher to call. Four years ago Frampton would have steamrolled the Bury boxer who was still learning on the job.

Now will be a different story, and the amount that Quigg has improved since his career-best win over Martinez last July will have a bearing – although I would still be inclined to agree with Frampton’s assertion that his best beats Quigg’s best.

Frampton is indeed the more skilled fighter and has the ability to stay away from the majority of Quigg’s body assaults to take a points victory. However, Quigg’s engine and conditioning will be of concern to Frampton and Shane McGuigan, and ‘The Jackal’ will have to do damage during the first half of the fight to take some air out of the Englishman’s tyres for the home stretch.

Derek McKenna – irish-boxing.com Reporter
I think it will be very cagey for the first four rounds but when Frampton settles he will land and KO Quigg in the fifth or sixth.

Diarmuid Sherry – irish-boxing.com Ulster Correspondent
I know i’m writing for Irish-boxing, and may be blinded by patriotism, but I simply fail to see how Quigg makes this competitive.

Frampton is the more adept boxer, tactician, and has much more experience of being the centre of attention than the Bury man. Quigg’s power, fitness, and desire is a leveller in this contest, but Frampton’s ring intelligence will be too much for Quigg on Saturday night.

I think that Quigg and his team are putting too much emphasis on their respective previous outings, and Frampton will not make the same mistakes as he did in Texas. I predict an unanimous decision for the Belfast man, along the lines of 9 rounds to 3.

Kane Clarke – irish-boxing.com Feature Writer
Its not even close for me. Theres levels on boxing and carl is a few above quigg. Dont let last performaces make your judgment. Carl between rounds 4 and 7.