Frampton certain to go into the Hall of Fame: Herring
■ Champion’s tribute to Ulsterman who leaves the ring with unforgettable legacy
WORLD champion Jamel Herring has hailed the legacy of Carl Frampton, following the Belfast man’s decision to call time on an incredible career.
Herring brought Frampton’s time in the ring to a shuddering halt on Saturday night in Dubai when he stopped the Jackal in the sixth round, to retain his WBO super-featherweight title. Having won world titles at super-bantamweight and featherweight, Frampton’s dream of becoming the sole Irish fighter to win belts at three weights was ended in emphatic fashion.
But, former US Marine Herring was quick to salute Frampton’s achievements which will never be forgotten by those who backed him on his journey to ring glory.
“In my opinion he is a future Hall of Fame fighter. As a two divisional champion, he has done great things for his country. I have always been a fan of Carl Frampton. I watched the Scott Quigg fight, watched the Leo Santa Cruz fights and as a fan I was hoping he would get the trilogy with Leo – that’s how much respect I have for him. It was an honour to share the ring with him,” said Herring.
Frampton, put down in the fifth and sixth rounds, looked a shadow of the man who was voted Ring Magazine fighter of the year in 2016 and backed up his pre-fight promise of retiring if he was defeated.
“I just didn’t have it anymore. It was weird because I sparred brilliantly in the camp and was really up for it and felt full of confidence,” said Frampton, whose head coach Jamie Moore threw in the towel following the second knockdown.
“I’ve had a good career and I’m proud of what I have done. If you had asked me at the start of my professional career what I was going to do in this business I wouldn’t have imagined what I have achieved. I’m done now, that’s it. I want to dedicate the rest of my life to my family.”