Frank Warren announces date for Carl Frampton’s Windsor Park fight night
Frank Warren has announced a date for Carl Frampton‘s big fight at Windsor Park.
Following over a week of speculation, Warren stated that the Belfast featherweight will box at the football stadium on Saturday August 18th – the date which had been rumoured.
The Queensberry boss was speaking at a press conference in London to confirm that BT Sport will air Tyson Fury’s return to the ring on June 9th.
Speaking briefly on Frampton, Warren outlined how “the 18th is the date we have. That fight would be the cherry on the cake.”
“I promised Carl a fight at Windsor Park and we are going there in August.”
“Belfast has always been a great fight city but it is now alive with these fighters who are winning. And Carl is the catalyst.”
“Now we want to get this Windsor Park fight, and that would be another big box ticked for me and Carl. It would be emotional and a great night for the fans.”
It should be noted that the Windsor Park fight night is yet to be officially confirmed.
For Frampton’s last fight, his recent defeat of Filipino legend Nonito Donaire, Warren had initially announced that the bout would take place on April 7th. The fight was then subsequently confirmed for April 21st – which led to a clash with the big Amir Khan comeback in Liverpool.
An opponent for the fight – which is assumed will be shown on BoxNation and BT Sport 1 has yet to be confirmed.
Frampton [25(14)-1(0)] claimed the WBO interim belt last time out but champion Oscar Valdez will be out of the ring until November.
WBA and WBC champions Leo Santa Cruz and Gary Russell Jr both have fights scheduled versus Abner Mares and JoJo Diaz respectively – leaving the red IBF belt.
Champion Lee Selby defends his belt against Leeds favourite Josh Warrington at Elland Road on May 19th.
Should Warrington win, Warren has stated his intention to build toward a unification in 2019. If Selby wins, it is hoped that he will be open to a quick turnaround and will elect to defend against Frampton 12 weeks later.
However, what is most likely is that Frampton will defend his WBO interim belt against another one of the fighters in the organisation’s rankings.
No undercard fighters have been mooted for the bill yet, and the majority of Belfast talent is expected to be split across the August 18th bill and Mick Conlan’s homecoming at the SSE Odyssey Arena on June 30th.
