Vegas exceeds even the dreams of working class hero Frampton

Skills pay the bills in boxing, but will is an important factor in any success according to WBA featherweight titlist Carl Frampton [23(14)-0].

The two-weight world champion surpasses his own early fight expectations as he tops and bill and defends his title in the Mecca that is the MGM Grand Garden Arena this coming Saturday in Las Vegas.

It’s the next step in an amazing journey for the down to earth Belfast lad and, upon reflection, it is one he feels blessed to be taking. Indeed it is another part to the story he hopes proves an inspiration to those from a similar working class backgrounds.

Indeed, ‘The Jackal’ has gone as far as to suggest there were fighters who were more skilled than he growing up, but believes his passion and hard work made him a bonafide world boxing star.

“There have been more skilled fighters than me over the years in Belfast but maybe they were not just as determined and they have just fallen away. Talent is needed, you need that foundation, but it only takes you so far. I’m a working class guy who has done well for himself and kids in housing estates have to know they can do it too whatever it is they are passionate about,” Frampton wrote in his column for the Belfast Telegraph.

Frampton admits that the scale of this weekend’s rematch exceeds even the wildest dreams he had as a young fighter and described how “I never dreamed I would headline in Vegas, I always wanted to be a world champion but it wasn’t until I was European champion that I started thinking it could become a reality.”

“It’s been a great journey, I’ve been very lucky with the way things have worked out. I’ve made the right decisions and now I’m at the top of the sport I want to stay there and get even better.”