Frank Warren explains decision for early Warrington v Frampton title clash

It could have been left to simmer to the benefit of their promoter but, despite the fact he thinks Carl Frampton versus Josh Warrington would sell out a stadium next Summer, Frank Warren claims “it’s on” and should play out in England this Winter.

The BT Sport-backed promoter believes he has a domestic classic on his hands and is keen to put the ‘dream fight’ on before the turn of the year.

Speaking after Frampton dominated against Luke Jackson in a packed Windsor Park Warren confirmed the rumoured bout will go ahead in 2018.

“Carl and Josh Warrington is a dream fight. They’re both at the top of their game, they both have that will to win, you’re going to see something special – it’s going to be the best domestic fight for many, many years and it will happen before the end of the year,” he explained before suggesting why he isn’t keen to wait.

Mandatories are the claimed reason for the move.

Frampton, by virtue of his WBO interim belt, is first in line for champion Oscar Valdez when the Mexican returns from injury and an IBF challenger will likely be designated following the eliminator between Kid Galahad and Toka Kahn Clary.

Queensberry boss Warren outlined how “it should really be a stadium fight because both guys have just had their last fights in football stadiums but we don’t want to wait until after Christmas for an outdoor fight because, by that stage, the guys could be bogged down in the demands of a mandatory title defence.”

“The guys want the fight, this is the best fighting the best and the fans will love it and I think it says a lot about them that they want it and I’d like think it says a lot about us a promotional company because we could have let the two guys go on their separate ways and defend their titles, but it’s on.”

Fighting in a stadium would provide more revenue for both fighters and indeed the promoter to split, but it seems ticket sales may not be as much a priority as PPV buys.

While date and venue have yet to be confirmed, the platform has, with the bout being set to be shown on the new BT Sport Box Office.

The price of the bout, Frampton’s second pay-per-view following the Scott Quigg unification, has yet to be confirmed.