Christine’s pulling no punches to back Carl

BY

BOXING hero Carl Frampton has revealed having wife Christine in his corner has brought him back from some “tough, dark days”.

The Jackal admitted he went through turmoil after losing his world title to Leo Santa Cruz in Las Vegas in January.

He hasn’t fought since that frustrating night at the MGM Grand but returns to the ring on Saturday to take on Andres Gutierrez.

The 24-year-old Mexican will be a significant challenge for Frampton but after rediscovering his vigour the North Belfast man pledged to put on a show for “the best fans in the world”.

And he hailed Christine for helping him pull through the hardest time in his career.

The 30-year-old said: “After losing to Santa Cruz I felt pretty low.

“I felt like a failure because I thought I’d let down all those fans who had travelled to watch me and all the people of Northern Ireland whose support continues to be very humbling.

“I got really upset. I hadn’t performed the way I wanted and it was melting my head a bit.

“I felt I was taking it out on Christine a bit and that was wrong.

“It was just the way I was feeling – it wasn’t me and she knew it.

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“Christine got me through that. She got me to pick my head up and helped me to get my head straight and realise that I had lost to a great champion, I hadn’t been at my best and it wasn’t the end.

“Boxers are complex characters, especially after a loss, and instead of just two children I’m sure that Christine feels at times she has three children in the house.”

Writing in his Sunday Life column, he added: “Losing my world featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz hit me hard, harder than most could understand.

“I have to give enormous credit to Christine for getting me through some tough, dark days.

“I guess I have never given her enough credit for the support she has been giving me right back from my amateur days

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