Daily Star

Jon targets gr-eight-er things

Carl’s shot at three-weight glory

- ■ by PETER OAKES ■ by CHRIS MCKENNA

CARL FRAMPTON will get his chance to make Irish boxing history on June 13 in Belfast.

The Northern Irishman will face WBO superfeath­erweight champion Jamel Herring, 34, in his home city.

Frampton, 33, will be looking to become Ireland’s first-ever three-weight world champion.

The Jackal has already won world titles at superbanta­mweight and featherwei­ght.

But US promoter Bob Arum confirmed he will get his shot to win another world title at 9st 4lb.

Frampton’s UK promoter Frank Warren is set to make the fight official this week.

Arum will be ringside in Belfast before jetting to London to see another of his fighters, Kubrat Pulev, who faces WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweigh­t champion Anthony Joshua at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on June 20.

The American said: “I’m really looking forward to that fight, Frank is going to announce it shortly.

“I am looking forward to being in Belfast on June 13 and then getting on a plane and coming to London, where my guy Pulev is going to put a whipping on Anthony Joshua.” Warren is finalising

JONATHAN PHILLIPS is hungry for more silverware after lifting his EIGHTH trophy as Sheffield Steelers skipper.

The GB captain led his side to a 4-3 Challenge Cup Final victory at Cardiff Devils on Sunday.

Phillips finally ended the club’s 17-year Challenge Cup drought after the heartbreak of losing five finals to become the most successful captain in the Steelers’ history.

The forward, 37, said:

■ the venue for the Frampton fight as they decide whether to go indoors at the SSE Arena or outdoors at Windsor Park.

Frampton, who has lost just twice in 29 fights, has made it clear he would prefer the fight at the home of his beloved Northern Ireland.

He stopped Australian fighter Luke Jackson at the venue in August 2018 and set up his world title shot with a win over Tyler Mccreary in November.

The Ulsterman has since undergone hand surgery but is now clear to return to training.

New York-born Herring has been keen to travel for the fight since it was first mooted and the American will have a five-inch height and eight-inch reach advantage.

Herring said: “I’m assuming ink on the contract is that other 10 per cent.

“All we need to do is sign on the dotted line and then give the world a good show.”

“It’s four league championsh­ips, three play-off wins and now I finally have been on the winning side in the Challenge Cup. I still have the hunger to do more – I don’t think anyone gets bored winning things.”

Sheffield had less than 44 hours to get over a 7-3 loss to the Devils in a crunch Elite League clash last

Friday which all but ended their title hopes.

The Devils leapfrogge­d their rivals to take over at the top, a point ahead but with three games in hand.

Phillips added: “Cardiff will definitely want to win the league now, we are two proud teams. Once Friday was done, we weren’t going to lose on Sunday.”

Sheffield’s celebratio­ns – they were welcomed back at their home rink at midnight by around 2,000 fans – went on until 4am.

PROMOTER Barney Eastwood died yesterday at the age of 87 after a short illness.

The Irishman worked with world champions Barry Mcguigan, Dave ‘Boy’ Mcauley, Crisanto Espana, Eamon Loughran, Victor Cordoba and Paul Hodkinson.

A family spokesman said: “BJ’S passing has brought great sadness to the family as well as the whole community in Holywood.”

 ??  ?? WEIGHT FOR IT: Frampton has already won world titles in two divisions
In associatio­n with
BIG FISH: Herring in action against Masayuki Ito last year
WEIGHT FOR IT: Frampton has already won world titles in two divisions In associatio­n with BIG FISH: Herring in action against Masayuki Ito last year

Newspapers in English

Newspapers from United Kingdom