I drowned my sorrows with fans after defeat
says CARL FRAMPTON
CARL FRAMPTON sank a beer then shed a tear.
But his kids soon got him smiling again, even if his daughter did question why fans were still calling him ‘champ’ after the gut-wrenching loss to Leo Santa Cruz in Las Vegas in January.
Now his focus is on another Mexican foe, Andres Gutierrez, who he faces at the SSE Arena in Belfast on July 29.
But before the Belfast man looks forward, he remembers how he felt the night his unbeaten record was taken from him at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
Frampton, 30, had never tasted defeat when he surrendered the WBA featherweight crown he had taken from Santa Cruz six months earlier in New York.
So he walked across the road from the MGM Grand the following day to the Nine Fine Irishmen bar to share a few drinks with a large chunk of the 5,000 Northern Irish fans that made the trip to see him.
Drink
“I went on the drink and forgot about it,” said Frampton. “We had a good night and enjoyed ourselves.
“I put a tab on when we celebrated in New York but there were so many people in Las Vegas I would have lost my purse. But everyone got a drink I hope.
“It wasn’t for show, that’s me. I just appreciate the support, a lot of people that travelled are probably putting themselves in very difficult financial positions and not in the good books at home.
“We were in the wee Irish pub across from the MGM, then went back to my suite with a few close friends.
“We had a few more drinks, then maybe a few tears with a few jars in me but it’s all right. I was properly gutted but I didn’t let it upset me too much.
“I got beat by a three-weight world champion on a bad night for me and it was still relatively close.”
It was when he returned to Belfast with wife Christine (inset), who had been in tears ringside when the majority decision was read out, and to their two young children, Carla and Rossa, that he started to smile again.
“My wee girl was a bit funny, she is used to me winning,” he said.
“She said a few funny things about me getting beat. Kids cheer you up when they say stuff.
“People would still come up and go, ‘Alright champ?’ and she said, ‘Why are they calling you champ, you got beat?’”
That support for Frampton was shown again when tickets for his clash with Gutierrez sold out in minutes.
His supporters feel like they can interact with him. He is one of them – a family man who enjoys a pint and has not got too big for his boots despite earning millions and becoming a national hero. After our chat in the pub across the road from trainer Shane McGuigan’s new Wandsworth gym in London, he is relaxing in a back room before his next session when a father and son arrive wearing Frampton T-shirts. Frampton,
who is managed by ring legend Barry McGuigan, welcomes them and gives them a tour, with an impromptu game of darts with the young fan who has travelled from Northern Ireland.
“Barry spoke about it before, it’s creating memories for people and it’s nice when you think about it like that,” he said.
“People still approach him and say, ‘I was at your fight at Loftus Road when you beat Eusebio Pedroza’ and if I’m getting people in 30 years talking about going to Vegas, New York or Manchester then that is something.”
For now the focus is on Gutierrez after a frustrating few months trying to entice Santa Cruz to Belfast.
It soon became clear the Mexican would not cross the Atlantic so other options were explored including a clash with IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby but the Welshman was tied up with a mandatory fight.
Scheduling issues made his dream of fighting at Windsor Park impossible and Cyclone Promotions, Frampton’s team, had to go indoors at the 11,000-seat arena.
Prime
That annoyed fans who missed out on tickets. Frampton understands but has to focus on Gutierrez and ensure the one defeat in his 24-fight career does not linger.
“I’m only 30 and I’m in the prime of my career. It is not as if I’m over the hill because of a defeat,” he said.
After this he has a five-fight plan to become a four-time world champion and win a title at super-featherweight before calling it a day.
“That will do me,” said Northern Ireland’s only two-weight world champion.
But the one most want to see is the decider against Santa Cruz after their two classic clashes.
“It will be more of a blotch on his career than mine if it doesn’t happen again,” added Frampton. “I’m sure it will.”
Then there will be more pints sunk but Frampton will be hoping any tears then are tears of joy.