Frampton wants to become Irish sporting legend
CARL Frampton’s name is in illustrious company scribbled proudly on ‘The Wall of Champions’ in McGuigans Gym in London. ‘The Jackal’ joins the likes of Mike Tyson and Sugar Leonard on a wall fit for the signatures of those you reached the very top of the fight game.
On a grander scale he joins the likes of Steve Collins, Barry McGuigan, Wayne McCullough and Bernard Dunne as one of just 21 Irish world boxing champions.
But ‘The Jackal’ wants more! Frampton wants to go down not just in Irish boxing history, but in Irish sporting folklore. The fighter, who defends his IBF super bantamweight World title in the Odyssey Arena on Saturday night wants to secure his legacy and ensure his name is mentioned alongside the likes of George Best, Paul McGrath, Brian O’Driscol and indeed his mentor McGuigan.
Speaking to the BCC Frampton explained,
“I want to become an Irish boxing legend, but also a legend of Irish sport. I want people to be talking about my fights for years to come the way they talk about Barry McGuigan’s fights.”
“It’s coming up to 30 years since Barry beat Eusebio Pedrosa to win the world title at Loftus Road and people still talk about it.
“It’s about legacy and establishing a healthy lifestyle for me and my family after boxing as well.”
Cross over fights with global appeal, against the likes of Scott Quigg, Leo Santa Cruzz and Gullerimo Rigondeaux will help Frampton move into consciousness of the wider sport fan, but first he must overcome a confident Chris Avolas tomorrow night.
