Hot prospect Frampton prepares for home debut

Trainer Gerry Storey and manager Barry McGuigan are both expecting big things out of super-bantamweight prospect Carl Frampton. The amiable 22-year-old from North Belfast shook off a hand injury recently, to accommodate me at the Holy Family gym and take some time on the pads with his trainer (see photos below).

 

Carl discussed all matters boxing, including a slot on the upcoming Paul McCloskey show in Magherafelt, when the Dungiven headliner originally aimed to relieve Souleymane Mbaye of his European crown before the Frenchman pulled out and vacated due to injury.

 

“I can’t wait to get on to the McCloskey undercard and would love all my fights to be in Northern Ireland, but I know that’s not going to happen,” stated Frampton, whose first two pro bouts took place in English venues. “I’m looking forward to it and the more I appear over here [in Ireland], the better.”

 

A former star amateur and Irish international, Carl took just two rounds to dispose of Hungarian opponent Sandor Szinavel on his Liverpool debut in June. Yannis Lakrout managed to last the four rounds, three months later, yet Frampton still posted a shutout on the referee’s scorecard.

 

“He can punch short and long and has impressive power,” said Barry McGuigan in his newspaper column, shortly before Carl turned professional. “He has got everything; a great attacking fighter who I'm convinced will go all the way.”

 

Trainer Gerry Storey Snr agrees that Frampton’s power is a huge asset and explained the logistics to me, before taking Carl on the pads: “Carl has both the skills and the punching power and he’s not a wild puncher, he can throw short, compact shots which is a great asset; it’s terrific when you get somebody who can nail an opponent with a six or eight inch punch.

 

“We work with him on that and he does it very well – combining that with his fitness, I think we can produce a complete fighter.”

 

Debut foe Szinavel was no world beater but Frampton decked him three times before he was rescued. Local fans will be eager to see their hero involved on 6th November in Derry; but they may not get to view him for very long.

 

“I think the transition into the pro game has gone well,” Frampton mused. “I’ve had two fights now and in the first one I stopped the boy in the second round while the second one saw me win a unanimous decision. In that fight my opponent was just trying to survive, but on the whole things are going well and I’m looking forward to my next fight on 6th November.”