Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FRAMPTON: ENDS ON A LOW AFTER A CAREER OF HIGHS Irish warrior’s bid for historic third title is a fight too far, but he will be remembered as one of boxing’s TRUE GREATS
EVERY fighter’s career is about the journey rather than the final destination.
Muhammad Ali is not remembered for being beaten by Trevor Berbick in his last bout nor Ricky Hatton for bowing out after being stopped by Vyacheslav Senchenko.
So it is with Carl Frampton. His defeat to Jamel Herring, as shattering as it was, will not define his career now it is over.
Frampton will still go down as arguably the greatest fighter from the island of Ireland, better even than Steve Collins and his former mentor Barry Mcguigan.
He will be remembered not for this first stoppage loss on Saturday night but for beating Kiko Martinez in his home city of Belfast in September 2014 to become the IBF super-bantamweight champion.
And for defeating WBA champ Scott Quigg at Manchester Arena in February 2016 to become the unified champion.
Not forgetting his greatest night five months later when he dethroned Leo Santa Cruz in New York to become the WBA Super featherweight king and a two-weight world champion.
His army of fans will always cherish being in Las Vegas for the rematch in January 2017 when it seemed every single Northern Ireland supporter was on The Strip.
Frampton’s emotions were raw after being stopped in six rounds by Herring in Dubai and he was devastated he could not win for his late mentor Billy Mckee.
Frampton, 34, who retires with a record of 28-3-0 from a 12-year pro career, welled up as he said: “I’m deeply upset. I wanted nothing more than to dedicate this fight to Billy Mckee, my old amateur trainer, who just recently passed away.
“I said before I’d retire if I lost this fight and that’s exactly what I’m going to do. I want to dedicate my whole career to my wife and my kids, they’ve made so many sacrifices. I’ve been away so long, I’ve missed them growing up and I just want to dedicate my life to my family now.”
Herring proved to be a world title fight too far for Frampton and the WBO super-featherweight champion was just too big and too good for the Ulsterman.
The magic, which propelled Frampton to all those great nights, was long gone and the former US Marine dominated, despite a cut on his right eyelid in the fourth.
Herring floored Frampton with a left hand in the fifth and again in the sixth with a left uppercut. Frampton bravely got up but seconds later he was out on his feet as Herring pounded away and trainer Jamie Moore threw in the towel.
“I just got beat by the better man,” said Frampton.
Herring, 35, was gracious in victory and paid tribute to Frampton, saying: “Carl is a tremendous champion. It’s tough to see any veteran of the sport go out like that but I’m glad he was able to walk out on his own two feet.”
Herring is right. Frampton walks away healthy and wealthy with his legacy secure.