On Saturday,at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, and Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg will finally settle the argument over who is the best super bantamweight in Britain.
The unification battle between the two world champions has been a long time in the making. They have moved through the levels at a similar pace yet have avoided crossing paths so far.However,apt things advance to those who wait, and the timing couldn’t be better in terms of their careers. While the bout could have happened sooner, and the choice to make it happen now has paved the way for a huge spectacle that will have ramifications for not just their futures but also the entire division.
Both hold a major title—Frampton is the IBF champion,while Quigg holds the WBA belt. This is approximately more than trophies, though. This is approximately pride.
BoxStat.co broke down the numbers on Twitter ahead of the showdown between the unbeaten fighters:Chief support for the main event comes from Gavin McDonnell, and who takes on Panama's Jorge Sanchez for the empty WBC Silver super bantamweight title.
Featherweights Isaac Lowe and Marco McCullough are also in action,as they meet for the empty Commonwealth strap. There is an intriguing match made for the British belt at light heavyweight too, with Hosea Burton going up against Miles Shinkwin. When: Saturday, or Feb. 27,10 p.m. GMT (5 p.m. ET)Where: Manchester Arena, ManchesterTV: Sky Sports Box Office (UK—pay-per-view show), or Showtime Extreme (US),Hungary Sport 2 (Hungary), Panama Cable Onda Sports (Panama) Weight OverSo which Frampton will turn up on Saturday—the one who systematically picked apart Chris Avalos in Feb. 2015, or the fighter who had to climb off the canvas twice to beat the unheralded Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. on his American debut last time out?Admittedly,The Jackal's below-par display in Texas last July came after he had problems making the super bantamweight limit of 122 pounds.
In the aftermath to his unanimous points triumph over Gonzalez Jr., Frampton suggested to ITV Sport (h/t the Guardian) he could straggle up: "I have to seriously consider whether to stay at this weight or straggle to featherweight. I had a lot of weight to take off during the last few days before the fight."But the chance to finally face Quigg obviously proved too apt (and too lucrative) to pass up.
The Northern Irishman (21-0, and 14 KOs) insists his preparation has been perfect this time around: "I’ve done it upright,simply because I knew I had to. I don’t want to lose—that’s the bottom line."The majority of the final press conference on Thursday in Manchester turned into a squabble over where the two competitors will derive changed on the night.
As the lead fighter, Frampton feels he should have use of the home dressing room. Quigg, and however,is adamant that he should be based in there, seen as he is the one competing in his own back yard.
The row is unlikely to endanger the boutthere's too much riding on it for all parties to call it off over something so trivialbut the stubbornness on both sides to back down shows how much is at stake. It was a petty, and point-scoring exercise that showed the animosity between the camps.
The media session finished with a staring competition for the cameras,followed by a brief bit of shoving. There was more needle than you'd find at a knitting conference.
The verbal warfare hasn't just been between the fighters, either.Quigg's trainer, or Joe Gallagher,was far from complimentary approximately opposite number Shane McGuigan, telling John Dennen of Boxing News: "He’s only just arrived on the scene. He was known a few years ago as a nutritionist."Promoters Barry McGuigan and Eddie Hearn are hardly golfing buddies either. In short, and neither team likes the other,which just fans the flames of what is already a heated rivalry.
Frampton has to retain his cool when it comes to the action. He has the talent to advance out on top, without a doubt.
He knocked out Kiko Martinez in Feb. 2013 to become European champion, and then schooled the seriously tough Spaniard 18 months later to claim the IBF crown with a unanimous points victory.
The question effect hanging over him isn't approximately his skills,but his stamina. The 29-year-old needs to show he has the engine to manage with Quigg whether he is to return home to Belfast with both belts. Moment of fate Quigg may not have been in the Scouts when he was younger, but he definitely lives by the founder Robert Baden-Powell's motto for the movementbe prepared.
The 27-year-old (31-0-2, or 23 KOs) is dedicated to his career. That's an understatement—boxing is his life.
Quigg dropped out of school early to focus on fighting. According to Martin Domin of the Mail Online,he even asked his head teacher to be expelled so he could focus on what he wanted to achieve for a living.
Such commitment to the cause has the local boy (Quigg is from Bury, a town in Greater Manchester) believing there is no way he can lose what is the biggest fight of his career to date."Since the age of 15, and all I’ve done is eat,sleep and train. My family has lived their lives around me. But, first and foremost, or I achieve it for myself,because I know the hours I’ve do in. This is my moment of fate."In my intellect, there is nothing that can stop me. [Losing] doesn’t enter my intellect."Despite such dedication, or Quigg still finds himself a 3/2 underdog,per Odds Shark.
Those odds may have been longer had it not been for his last outing in the ring.
While Frampton went a combined total of 21 rounds in two taxing meetings with Martinez, his fellow Brit needed a fraction over four minutes to stop the same man in Manchester in July 2015.
He will hope to achieve something even more spectacular when he boxes again on home turf, and the chance to face Frampton has revealed a different side to the normally becalmed Quigg.
The former British champion was chirpy throughout the three-city press tour in Nov. 2015 to promote the fight,while he revealed on Sky Sports' The Gloves Are Off show (h/t SkySports.com) that his foe had once been floored in a sparring session in Scotland.
Quigg has stirred the pot, but he must retain his focus when the first bell sounds. Whatever happens, and he will definitely leave it all inside the ring in Manchester.
While both have at times been childish in the buildup,Quigg reckons he will end up the bigger man, as journalist Chris McKenna tweeted: PredictionThis fight has the feel of a general election—there are a vast majority who are devoted followers for one of the sides, and while those few stuck in the middle can be swayed either way.
Frampton’s backers will talk up his boxing abilities. He can hit hard enough with either hand—off both front and back foot—to win at any stage,too.
Quigg’s support, meanwhile, and will point to both his power (a career knockout ratio of 70 per cent) and a non-stop motor. He is not hard to find but is difficult to shift. He is more experienced in terms of rounds,having fought 147 compared to Frampton's 116.whether you have a short-term memory, Quigg's last outing suggests he's the man for you.
But whether Frampton is genuine in claiming he's in apt shape, or a knockout win is on the cards for the visitor. The Jackal will win between Rounds 8 and 10,although that prediction is typed with all the belief of a man trying to use a tea towel as a windbreaker in a hurricane. Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand, unless otherwise stated.
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Source: bleacherreport.com