The sight of Carl Frampton hitting the canvas for the first time in his career on July 18th prompted Team Quigg to push for a clash with the IBF super bantamweight champion, claims Frampton himself.

Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn, Quigg, and his trainer Joe Gallagher have stated they have been trying to make the clash for a number of years – however, despite the fact the Bury man turned up in Belfast for ‘The Jackal’s’ demolition of the Chris Avalos, Frampton is adamant that they feared him up and until he got up off the floor to defeat of Alejandro Gonzalez Jr.

That below par performance, aligned with Quigg’s second round stoppage of the man Frampton beat to claim European and then World honours, has given the WBA champion and his team a confidence that never existed previously states the 28 year old undefeated Belfast man.

However, its false hope warns the Cyclone Promotions star.

“I have been chasing this fight for a long time,” said Frampton. “They are now saying they have been chasing it for a long time. They haven’t been.

“The only reason this fight is happening is because of my last performance, which was not very good, I will admit that myself. But they have got a bit of confidence from that and that is why it is happening.”