Frampton reveals the fights that would stop him retiring

Carl Frampton has revealed the two fights that would tempt him to fight on.

After defeat to Josh Warrington in Manchester on December 22 ‘The Jackal’ failed to rule out retirement.

Indeed, he suggested it was a possibility but declared he would take some family time over Christmas before making a finite decision.

However, just a week after the IBF world title reverse the 31-year-old revealed two opponents that would tempt him to prolong his career.

The Belfast fighter, who claims to have fallen back in love with the sport, isn’t keen on any rebuild and still holds a ‘big fight or none at all’ mantra.

Two big fights that would tempt him to return to camp and prevented him hanging up his gloves are bouts with the only fighters to have beaten him in his career.

Frampton would be open to rematches with WBA world featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz and IBF titleholder Warrington.

“I would be very tempted to fight again if I was offered a rematch with Warrington or a third fight with Leo Santa Cruz. I wouldn’t go back to lesser fights,” Frampton revealed in his Sunday Life column.

If he was to secure a return with Warrington the Belfast fighter is confident he could get ring revenge. Without taking anything away from his most recent opponent, the former two weight world champ claimed the fight was lost once he deviated from the game plan.

“I obviously have regrets and feel there are things that I could have done differently.

“But at the same time I give a lot of credit to Warrington and his team because tactically they got it right and everything fell into place for them.

“But, if I had a rematch with Warrington, I believe I would beat him – if I stuck to my game-plan.”

A rematch with Warrington would appear easy to make. The bout went down as a Fight of the Year contender and promoter of both Frank Warren labelled it the best he has seen in a British ring.

Frampton remains a big fight for Santa Cruz particularly if Valdez faces Warrington and the Mexican wants to avoid Gary Russell Jr, but the rubber match would be easier to make if ‘The Jackal’ had a title.