WORLD BEATER
Frampton takes featherweight title to set up massive Windsor Park bout in August
CARL FRAMPTON remains on track for a world title fight at Windsor Park this summer after outpointing the dangerous Nonito Donaire at Belfast’s SSE Arena.
The Northern Irishman is eyeing another shot at a featherweight crown, with WBO titlist Oscar Valdez on his radar as well as the winner of next month’s fight between IBF beltholder Lee Selby and Josh Warrington.
And Frampton pushed his cause with a commanding display against former four-weight world champion Donaire, who gave his opponent a couple of scares but largely came off second best.
All three judges scored the contest 117-111 — or nine rounds to three — as Frampton earned the interim WBO featherweight title.
Frampton, who improved his professional record to 25 wins from 26 fights, explained: ‘The only thing on my mind at the minute is Windsor Park and I can’t wait to get there.
‘There’s not a man on this planet at featherweight that’s going to beat me at Windsor Park.’
Promoter Frank Warren confirmed an outdoor event at Northern Ireland’s national football stadium is next for Frampton.
He added: ‘We’re going to be in Windsor Park in August and obviously all the bits will fall into place regarding who the opponent will be over the next month or so.’
Golfer Rory McIlroy was ringside as Frampton looked to bounce back from an underwhelming display against Horacio Garcia last November, his first bout with trainer Jamie Moore in his corner.
And the 31-year-old, who has won world titles at super-bantamweight and featherweight, proved that display was little more than a blip against an opponent who slumped to his fifth defeat in the paid ranks.
Donaire has been an elite performer in the lower weights for much of the last decade and the 35-year-old started well with a couple of decent body blows in an otherwise unremarkable opening round.
Frampton upped the tempo in the second with a ferocious flurry igniting the contest, and a straight right left Donaire with swelling under his left eye.
More eye-catching blows came from the home favourite in the third, with a couple of sharp rights finding their way through Donaire’s high defensive guard.
The fighters traded more punishing blows in the fourth when Frampton forced his foe on to the ropes, but once again it was the Northern Irishman’s punches that appeared to be more telling.
Donaire brought his vaunted left uppercut into play in the fifth although Frampton ended the round strongly before using his movement to good effect to beat his foe to the punch in the sixth. Frampton was momentarily buzzed by an uppercut after forcing Donaire to the ropes in the seventh but responded valiantly as the pair traded fierce blows.
It seemed that would be his only moment of danger as Donaire started to slow, with Frampton increasing his lead on the scorecards in the eighth, ninth and 10th.
But Donaire responded to being pushed on the floor in the 11th with some wild hooks that stunned Frampton, who was forced to retreat.
The success was fleeting for Donaire as Frampton closed the show in style although he admitted afterwards: ‘I didn’t have to get involved in a fight there. Nonito Donaire is a dangerous m ********** r.
‘He was a sharp puncher throughout. In the 11th round I was definitely hurt, I’m not going to deny it, but I survived it and that’s what champions do, they survive.’
Meanwhile, Another world-title shot is one of Amir Khan’s chief priorities following his blistering comeback performance in Liverpool when he knocked out Phil Lo Greco in just 39 seconds.
After a two-year hiatus, Khan stepped back into the ring on Saturday night and emerged with a swift first-round victory after sending Lo Greco to the canvas twice.
While not much could be gleaned from those 39 seconds, it was evident that Khan still possessed the hand speed and movement that once made him a world champion, and he hopes it can do so again.
An all-British showdown with Kell Brook, one that has been mooted for a long time, is an option but Khan is also desperate to claim a belt at welterweight.
‘Making 147 (lb) is not a problem,’ the 31-year-old said.
‘Boxing’s a business and Kell’s a good fighter. He’s at 154, I’m still campaigning at 147. Maybe at catchweight then the fight’s going to happen.
‘I want to win a world title at 147 first before I start going up. I feel at the peak of my career.’