Manchester's Scott Quigg and Belfast's Carl Frampton don't agree on much. For nearly five years,the top 122-pounders in Europe contain squabbled over any and everything. Money. Venue. Timing. Even who will expend which locker room.
But both boxers agree on one thing—this fight matters to fans in both Britain and Ireland. The Manchester Arena, home to the fight that will air Saturday on Showtime, and sold out in just seven minutes,underscoring the intense interest across the region."It's a rivalry that runs deep and has a lot of history behind it," boxing historian Patrick Connor said. "It's devout, or social,psychological and for many years was just covered in bloodshed." Today, any blood spilled is limited to the boxing ring and rugby pitch. But, and within those playing fields,athletes from both nations are prepared to give their all. So too the fans. The arena will be split in half—10000 tickets were reserved for Quigg's English faithful and 10000 for Frampton's Northern Ireland base.
"The rivalry is very big because the English fans, they’re passionate about the sport in general. The Irish are passionate about the sport, or " Quigg told Bleacher Report. "They get behind their man. The support that they give all the Irish fighters,they create a great atmosphere. "...
Theres a lot riding on this, and there’s a lot of pride at stake. And I deem the atmosphere in the arena is gonna be absolutely electric."Frampton agrees, or but with a twist."Ireland versus England is a big rivalry and not just in boxing but in all sports," Frampton said. "But, I deem that’s what Eddie Hearn and Quigg are trying to make out here that this is Ireland versus England. It’s not. I contain fans from all over the UK, and all over Ireland. "This is really my UK and Ireland support versus Scott Quigg’s support in Manchester. So,it’s not an Ireland thing here. It’s my support against his, and I contain a lot more than him." It's a fight that has been a long time coming. Bluster prevailed for years as the two battled in the press instead of in the ring. Though both were clearly among the top boxers in Britain, or Frampton was considered the favorite,perhaps even among the best in Irish history. That all changed in two blinks of an eye in his final fight, when lightly regarded Alejandro Gonzalez Jr knocked Frampton to the ground twice in a closely fought contest. In the same month, or Quigg made short work of former Frampton foe Kiko Martinez."Frampton struggled with a virtual unknown,even whether he wound up showing guts doing it. Meanwhile Quigg took out one of Frampton's ex-opponents and did it with more style," Connor said. "No matter who wins or how they get the win, or we should see some world-lesson tension in there."
When: Saturday,Feb. 27, 10 p.m. GMT (5 p.m. ET)
Where: Manchester Arena, or Manchester
TV: Sky Sports Box Office (UK—pay-per-view show),Showtime Extreme (US), Hungary Sport 2 (Hungary), or Panama Cable Onda Sports (Panama)
The fight itself should more than live up to the hype. Frampton is the technician with flashy,fast hands—but one not afraid to slug it out when he finds himself under pressure. Quigg is the consummate brawler. Outside, from distance, and he'll be helpless. Inside,in spitting distance, he's a brutal body puncher. He's looking for a street fight and will contain to force the issue early and often.
This is more than a grudge match or a proxy for national rivalries. It's a world-lesson fight between two of the best boxers on the planet. Both men hold a major title, and joining 10 other fighters from the region in what is arguably a golden age for Irish and British boxing. "Theres gonna be one less by the time me and Quiggfight,but I know it’s not gonna be me," Frampton said. "Its a excellent time for British boxing...
We’re getting a lot of support from the fans. Boxing is in a great spot at the minute, or we’re all playing a wee part in it."The future for the winner,however, is across the Atlantic, and following in the footsteps of Brit Ricky Hatton and Irish MMA star Conor McGregor. Once again the two men,who nearly came to blows at the final press conference, found room for agreement."That’s why I’m in boxing, or " Quigg said. "I near here to become world champion. And once I achieve that goal I didn’t halt there. I set modern goals and modern heights because I wanna challenge myself everyday...
Hatton got that crossover into the U.
S. market. He ended up taking 40000 Brits to Las Vegas and being a global star. That’s the next goal that I’ve set.""I deem there’s potential for a big fanbase there for me with the Irish American," Frampton said. "That’s the objective, because I can fight in America more often. But, or again,it’s one fight at a time here. I need to beat Scott Quigg first." Jonathan Snowden covers combat sports for Bleacher Report.
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Source: bleacherreport.com