LUKE’S FIGHT IS ON

Jackson vows to silence critics as world title fight booked

LUKE Jackson has vowed not only to bring the WBO interim world featherweight title back to Tasmania but to silence the doubters who say he is not worthy of the opportunity.

The Tasmanian terrier was officially announced as Carl Frampton’s opponent overnight as the main event on the August 18 card at Belfast’s Windsor Park.

And there is a chance it might be for the full WBO world title, with holder Mexico’s Oscar Valdez possibly to be stripped of his belt due to a long rehabilitation for a broken jaw suffered in his last fight.

Speculation of the FramptonJackson match-up had brought some derision in boxing circles and from keyboard warriors suggesting that Jackson — despite being world No.5, unbeaten across 16 pro fights and an Olympic and Commonwealth Games team captain — was not up the task.

Speaking to the Mercury just before the overnight official press conference, Jackson said all the negativity was just motivation.

“They are writing me off already, but I’ve worked my whole life to get to this position,” Jackson said.

“Carl Frampton is a world champion but he breathes the same air I do.

“I just can’t believe they are giving me absolutely no chance whatsoever.

“But you know what? I wasn’t supposed to be here anyway.

“A lot of the people didn’t even give me the chance to even be in this position, so I’m not worried about it.”

Jackson, who grew up at Clarendon Vale and learned to box in his dad’s garage, said he was ready to take on Frampton in front of up to 20,000 screaming Northern Irish men and women on a card that will also include former British world heavyweight champ Tyson Fury and three-time Irish Olympian Paddy Barnes.

Critics point out that Jackson is yet to fight a professional of the likes of Frampton, who has held two previous world titles in different weights, and is yet to fight professionally outside Australia.

But he dismissed such concerns, especially given his experience as an amateur.

“I’ve fought in China in front of 15,000 people, I’ve fought in the Olympics in front of 10,000 people, I’ve done it all,” he said.

“I’ve fought the best as an amateur.

“He did nothing as an amateur, I’m one of the most credentialed amateur boxers Australia has ever seen.

“I’ve fought at the highest level as an amateur, I’ve fought guys who are now world champions as an amateur and beaten them.

“Yes, it is a massive step up, but I’ve been in the ring with better guys than Carl Frampton.”

His manager Adam Wilcox said Jackson’s foray into the bright lights of the world boxing stage would be one of the top fights of 2018.

“Until his lone loss [to Leo Santa Cruz], Frampton was in the top five pound-for-pound fighters in the world and ‘Jacko’ is arguably the country’s most popular boxer,” Wilcox said.

“I’m sure it’ll be regarded as one of the year’s top fights, it certainly should be. It’s the highest fight possible for Luke, given the current injury to Valdez.”