No opponent confirmed at press conference for Carl Frampton’s next fight

As was expected, Carl Frampton [23(14)-1(0)] will make his return to the ring on Saturday November 18th.

It will be, at last, a Belfast homecoming for the Tigers Bay featherweight who will no doubt pack out the SSE Odyssey Arena.

The clash will be Frampton’s first under new promoter Frank Warren and on the BT Sport platform.

However, the identity of 30 year old’s next opponent has not been announced.

A press conference takes place this morning at the Ulster Hall, but Frampton’s opponent remains listed as TBA.

Frampton is ranked #7 by the WBO, #1 by the WBC, and #3 by both the WBA and IBF.

‘The Jackal’ has noted that his opponent for this upcoming fight will be a solid, if unspectacular, foe that will hopefully give him the opportunity to build toward a clash with a major name next year.

Recently a fight with WBO champion Óscar Valdez had been mooted by the Mexican’s promoter Bob Arum, and the Top Rank fighter called out Frampton in the aftermath of his title defence in Tucson against Genesis Servania on Friday.

Considering this alongside Warren’s close links with the WBO it seems that this is the preferred immediate next step for Frampton and a opponent will be taken from the organisation’s Top 15.

The fight will be Frampton’s first since losing his WBA title in a Las Vegas rematch with Leo Santa Cruz in January.

Since then he has seen a proposed homecoming in June against Andres Gutierrez fall through when the Mexican slipped and injured himself in the shower the night before the fight.

In the aftermath of this fight Frampton announced his split with the McGuigan family – although the seeds of departure had seemingly been planted beforehand.

Over the past month Frampton has linked up with new trainer Jamie Moore in Manchester as well as taking on Irish management outfit Mack The Knife Global in an advisory role.

The card in just over seven weeks time will feature a world title fight for Belfast’s Jamie Conlan.