WINDSOR CASTLE
19 years after Frampton first witnessed sporting heroics at the Belfast ground, he’s aiming to produce fireworks of his own
CARL FRAMPTON’S earliest memories of Windsor Park are watching his beloved Northern Ireland taking on world champions France.
On Saturday – 19 years on, to the very day – the Belfast hero hopes to create memories for his own fans at the home of Northern Irish football.
Frampton, 31, was a wideeyed 12-year-old when the likes of Lilian Thuram and Patrick Vieira helped France to a 1-0 win just a year after lifting the World Cup on home soil.
France were again crowned world champions this summer. But this time Frampton will be the star on show in the centrecircle ring with 25,000 home fans roaring him on against Aussie underdog Luke Jackson.
“My first memory of watching the Northern Ireland team play was against France,” said Frampton, who has lost just once in 26 fights. “I remember Thuram more than anyone. He must have had a great game because he stuck in my memory.
“It was only a few years ago that I realised I could fight there. That happens when you start to sell out arenas.
“It has been stated that this is my childhood dream, but it hasn’t been a childhood dream because I never thought fighting in a football stadium would be a possibility. “I don’t think any kid thinks that.” Former WBA super-bantamweight and featherweight champion Frampton tops the bill in Belfast this weekend. His best pal Paddy Barnes fights for the WBC flyweight title against Cristofer Rosales in just his sixth fight while former heavyweight king Tyson Fury (left) is the headlinegrabber on the card as he continues his comeback against Francesco Pianeta. Frampton said: “Big Fury is on the bill and, if Paddy Barnes wins a world title and I beat Luke Jackson, it could go down as a historic sporting event in Northern Ireland.”
Frampton also reckons London 2012 Olympian Jackson (right), who is unbeaten in 16 fights but who has never fought as a professional outside of Australia, will struggle with the atmosphere.
He said: “He’s talked about boxing in front of big crowds at the Olympics and referred to his amateur career but this is different.
“This is going to be really hostile – it won’t be people sitting and clapping a good shot. This is going to be completely different.
“I don’t know what he’s expecting on Saturday but this is going to be different. It’s going to be very, very noisy and something he’s never experienced before.” If he beats Jackson and stays clear of injury, Frampton will be rewarded with a shot at IBF featherweight champion Josh Warrington, the 27-year-old from Leeds, later this year. Frampton holds the WBO ‘interim’ title so another win will also make him mandatory opponent for WBO champion Oscar Valdez once he has recovered from a broken jaw. Confident Frampton added: “It’s important to understand that the plan goes out the window if I don’t win this fight. “I’m fully focused on Luke Jackson.”