Two Fingers – Carl Frampton plans to stick it to his doubters and Josh Warrington

Carl Frampton [26(15)-1(0)] believes he is better than ever and will prove his all his doubters, most notably Josh Warrington, wrong.

‘The Jackal’ admits he went through a phase where he “fucking hated” boxing but now, under Jamie Moore, he is feeling refreshed and ready to make a statement on Saturday night.

Frampton challenges for Warrington’s IBF featherweight title at the Manchester Arena this weekend, live on BT Sport Box Office and ESPN+, and thinks the English champion is underestimating him.

While Warrington professed that he does not believe Frampton is past his best, the Leeds native has said as much in interviews with print, radio, and video media.

Frampton said “I think that, no matter what Josh and his team say, I think that they think that I’m over the hill.”

“I think that, when this fight is taking place, if it’s getting sticky and it may turn into a dogfight, I’m prepared for it.”

“That’s when they see and they’ll realise that I’m not over the hill and I’ve so much left to give.”

Frampton’s certainty comes from a change of surroundings, leaving the McGuigan family and linking up with Moore at the VIP Gym in Manchester.

This switch has him back enjoying boxing, with a change in training methods seemingly reaping benefits.

The Belfast boxer described how “I believe I’m better [than when I beat Leo Santa Cruz]. I was beating guys like Santa Cruz and even Quigg when I wasn’t really enjoying boxing.”

“I fucking hated it, if I’m being honest, I hated it but I was still getting big performances.”

“Now I’m enjoying it, I look forward to it, I put in maximum effort in training sessions. I’m switched on, I have a much more smarter approach to my camps. It’s a very scientific approach we have and I feel like I’m better now than when I beat guys like Leo Santa Cruz.”

“I never really thought of packing in it but, five, six years ago, I had this age of 32 being about the limit for me because I didn’t want to be doing it anymore.”

“That’s all changed now. Why would you pack something in while you’re still performing at your best, while you’re enjoying it for the first time since you turned professional?”

While he believes he is at the peak of his powers, many fans and pundits, along with Warrington, say differently.

Frampton is, therefore, looking forward to sticking it to his detractors on Saturday night.

The Irishman notes how “I’ve been written off and I think it’s unjust, really.”

“You look at the fights I had, Quigg, Santa Cruz twice. I got beat in a close fight by Santa Cruz the second time after beating him in the first fight – and people think I’m done!”

“There’s people out there who’ve doubted me and people out there that say I’m done. This will be sticking the fingers up to them and showing I’ve plenty left to give.”

Hungirier than ever, Frampton added that “I’ve been round the houses to get in this position to fight for a world title again. Realistically I should have been walking straight into a title fight but it took three fights to get here and I’m not letting anyone take it away from me. I want this title more than I’ve ever wanted a title.”

“Josh mentioned that he wants it more than me, I don’t know him personally, I don’t know how much he wants it but it would be very hard to want it more than I want this title now.”