Frampton: Warrington clash will be fight of the year
CARL FRAMPTON said a brilliant goodbye to Belfast and a big hello to his bid for a third world title as he realised his dream of boxing at Windsor Park. Northern Ireland’s national football stadium was packed with 25,000 followers of ‘The Jackal’ as he destroyed tough Australian Luke Jackson. His merciless performance has teed up a Battle of Britain for Josh Warrington’s IBF world featherweight title. Frampton’s folk hero status in Ulster and Warrington’s booming popularity in Leeds will make for a fevered atmosphere in the Manchester Arena in December. ‘Given our styles, this could be the fight of the year,’ said Frampton after confounding suspicions that he may be past his prime. The 31-year-old was back to his clinical, merciless best in knocking out Jackson at the end of the ninth round. Frampton broke down Jackson by adding sustained body attacks to his head-snapping combinations. Jackson winced with pain several times as Frampton pounded his torso on his way to winning every round. Frampton praised him for battling on but the final, crushing right-hander to the abdomen was too much to bear. Jackson struggled back to his feet but, as the barrage increased, his corner threw in the towel. With Frampton hoping that victory over Warrington would lead to world title unification fights in the US, he hinted that this could be his last ring appearance in his home city. If so, it was a memorable farewell.