Hatton: Frampton has ability to become global star on Saturday

Ricky Hatton believes that Carl Frampton has a chance to become a global boxing star tomorrow.

‘The Jackal’ takes on WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz in New York on Saturday, and Hatton feels a win the Belfast man could elevate him to the sort of stardom that he himself experience during the 2000s.

Hatton is currnetly in New York in the capacity of trainer, with his Belarussian light middleweight Sergey Rabchenko taking on Tony Harrison in an IBF eliminator on the Santa Cruz-Frampton undercard.

Speaking to media yesterday at the pre-fight press conference, Hatton outlined the importance of making it in American, reasoning that “you can be a World champion, but before you have made your name globally you have to come here [America]. That goes without saying. I am very proud to say I have done it and Carl Frampton has his chance to do it now.”

Hatton, who trains the three Upton brothers, is a fan of the Belfast man’s talents and described how “Carl showed a lot of maturity in his last fight, he has knocked a lot of people out and shown he can hit, but he used his boxing ability to beat Scott Quigg. He showed he can adapt his style.”

“I think he will be a little bit better for moving up in weight division and not having to boil down. He is a very explosive fighter anyway.”

In terms of a prediction, Hatton is like many and cant split the two, and the Manchester star noted how “Frampton’s fight with Santa Cruz is 50-50, one that could go either way.”

“Carl will really have to dig deep at times.”