Frampton comes alive!

Frampton comes alive!

Mark E. Ortega

Leave-it-in-the-ring.com

May 31, 2011

When 24-year old Belfast super bantamweight prospect Carl Frampton operates within a boxing ring, it is with a subtle confidence that is unobjectionable considering the young fighter's smooth combination punching and heavy right hand.

Against Venezuelan Oscar Chacin, Frampton mixed his arsenal to the head and body in a way that would make you believe he has more experience than his 9-0 [6 KOs] record would indicate.

Fellow Northern Ireland natives Brian Magee and Paul McCloskey both recently made unsuccessful bids for world titles, but its no surprise that Frampton already has many in the area already thinking he could be the one to break the recent spell.

For one, he has former world featherweight champion and Irish boxing legend Barry McGuigan guiding his career. That alone has opened up doors for Frampton that are likely unavailable to other similarly hyped prospects. Being the protege of McGuigan in Ireland is like being the protege of Jordan in America; you could argue that nobody else could properly gauge what it takes to reach the top the way the International Boxing Hall of Fame inductee could. That McGuigan saw something impressive enough from jump to get involved would be enough to warrant the instant buzz that Frampton received.

That he has looked sensational in each bout since turning pro two years ago is another reason. Frampton has not lost a round since dropping the headgear, finishing six of his opponents inside the distance. Those six victims include forty-fight veteran Yuriy Voronin last September, who had only been stopped two other times in eleven losses.

Frampton's fight with Robbie Turley on Friday serves as an eliminator for the British title, although not a final eliminator. That said, Frampton has domestic titles in his sights and sees things beyond British and European gold.

Early in Frampton's career, he sparred with Jason Booth. Though coming off a knockout loss to Kiko Martinez, Booth holds both the Commonwealth and British super bantamweight crowns. Booth paid immediate positive feedback in reference to Frampton's skills, saying he was a Miguel Cotto type fighter. Frampton, by all accounts, gave as good as he got during that session.

“I went six rounds with him, I think I only had two or three fights at the time,” expressed Frampton. “It was an even spar, I'd say he probably took the first three rounds and I took the next three. It was good for me that I was coming on strong at the end. I was stronger than him, pushing him back. He's tricky, a good honest pro, and knows all the tricks of the trade.”

When presenting the idea that he may be fighting Booth sooner rather than later, Frampton was frank.

“At the minute Jason is British/Commonwealth champion. I want his titles in the next two fights.”

A fight that could be big for the Irish region is one with Dublin's Paul Hyland, who last was stopped in November by Willie Casey in four rounds. Frampton said that is a fight he would take no problem. It doesn't seem that Frampton has a problem with any fight that could conceivably be put together during this stage of his career. His aspirations are beyond what many young kids who lace the gloves up at seven dream of. His fight with Turley will be shown on Sky Sports as the chief support to the Andy Murray-Gavin Rees headliner, which serves as Frampton's introduction to the mainstream audience.

“To be getting on Sky shows is where every up-and-coming fighter wants to be,” said Frampton enthusiastically. “People in Ireland know about me, the boxing fans in Britain as well. The average guy in the streets in Britain doesn't know who I am so this is an opportunity to give a good performance.”

“Quigg, Munroe, Joe Murray, these are the guys I want to be in with pretty soon in the next couple of fights.”

“The amateur team is the number one Olympic sport. People love to fight and love boxing. There is a good chance of me being able to bring big crowds in. Carl Frampton could be the next world champion from Belfast.”

Friday, Frampton will get the most exposure his career has seen so far. Turley gave a good account of himself against Jamie Arthur in the Prizefighter tournament held last May, but is likely in over his head against his undefeated opponent.

“I see myself as calm when I am in the ring and out of the ring. I can take my time, I know when I got these guys hurt. I expect him to box on his back foot. Once I hit him, its going to make things interesting. Once I hit this guy it could be an early night, though I am well prepared for ten rounds.”

It seems like Frampton will be well prepared for however things play out on Friday as well as further down the future as his career progresses. He could be the first world champion from Ireland since Bernard Dunne won the WBA title from the same 122 pound division that Frampton campaigns in against Ricardo Cordoba in a 2009 Fight of the Year candidate.

In that contest, Dunne was a sizable underdog to claim the title in his hometown O2 Arena in Dublin. That fight took place in front of a capacity crowd that rivals anything you'd be used to seeing for a fight that was virtually disregarded by the world circuit. If McGuigan could guide Frampton to the world stage, his presence alone would help garner the same level of support that Dunne commanded.

Though it may be thinking far into the future, Irish prognosticators are likely to have it right: Carl Frampton is a high caliber talent that should be on everybody's watch lists.