Happy Carl Frampton believes he will benefit from coaching switch

Carl Frampton [24(14)-1(0)] claims he is happier in boxing than he has ever been going into his first fight of what he hopes will be a massive 2018.

‘The Jackal’ has experienced massive highs winning three world titles at two different weights, but says he is more content now than ever as he now approaches fights differently.

The statement comes on the back of a difficult 2017 which lead to a change in management and coach and ahead of his April 21st clash with four-weight World champ Nonito Donaire.

The Belfast featherweight has teamed up with former Irish champion Jamie Moore and is loving life in the VIP Gym in Astley that is populated by Martin Murray, Conrad Cummings, Steven Ward and more.

“Obviously 2017 wasn’t great, but it finished on a high with the win. I’ve changed teams and overhauled everything that was going on behind the scenes and I feel better for it,” Frampton, who is currently out in Tenerife training, told Press Association Sport.

“Kicking it off in 2018 with Nonito Donaire, potentially a fight at Windsor Park in the summer, and then maybe squeezing another one in before Christmas – that is a very good year.”

“I was saying I had 32 in my head [as a retirement age] because I wasn’t really enjoying boxing at the time, but now I am. I’ve been involved in boxing 23 years now and this is the most I’ve ever enjoyed it. This gym is brilliant. I love it. The camaraderie is great.”

Pre the Cyclone split Frampton enjoyed a successful spell with Shane McGuigan in his corner winning Commonwealth, European and even World titles. Now with Sky pundit Moore, he believes he is benefiting from a change in approach.

Along with warm weather training camps, the Ulsterman is now training with a different intensity, alternating heavy and light days as well as dramatically cutting his amount of sparring.

“I think Jamie is very knowledgeable,” Frampton stated. “I’m not saying my old trainer’s approach was bad, but Jamie has a different approach, very tactical.”

“We go through tactics over and over that we think are going to work against the opponent and we keep repeating them until we get them right.”

“It’s a different approach to what I was used to before, and I feel at this stage of my career it is going to benefit me.”

In 35-year-old Filipino Donaire, Frampton is putting it all on the line with an IBF title shot on the horizon.

“He’s a brilliant fighter and I’m expecting the best Nonito Donaire there has been,” noted the Tiger’s Bay 31-year-old.

“I’ll need to be at my best, and I think with the way I’m feeling at the gym at the minute, you are going to see the old Carl Frampton back again.”