BOXING: Frampton has point to prove
CARL Frampton is on a mission to prove he is the top super bantamweight in Ireland.
The Tigers Bay 23-year-old tops the bill for the first time on September 18 when he takes on Yuriy Voronin at the Ulster Hall.
And Frampton believes he will see off Voronin and convince the critics he is the best in his weight division - ahead of Irish and EU champion Paulie Hyland and Prizefighter winner Willie Casey.
With the vacant European super-bantamweight title fight between Spain's Kiko Martinez and Arsen Martirosyan taking place in Dublin on Saturday, there has been speculation that either Casey or Hyland will get a chance against the new champion.
And Frampton believes he will soon be in the reckoning for a shot at a European title.
"Of course, I'd like to be in that mix - I believe that right now. If you put me in the ring with them, I could beat any other super-bantamweight in Ireland.
"The boys are higher up the rankings and they are entitled to be because they have had more fights and more wins than me, but if I got offered to fight them right now I would be confident of beating them," he added.
Frampton may have confidence in his own ability, but he still has respect for Hyland and Casey.
"Hyland has a different style to Casey and Martinez but I believe I could handle that. I have more power than Paulie but he is a very good boxer and he is dangerous.
"Casey is a bit more raw – he has improved a lot under (coach) Phil Sutcliffe but I believe I have the tools to outbox and outpunch him. He is a big puncher, but I hit harder."
Barry McGuigan, who promotes Setanta Sports' televised card on Saturday, September 18 also has great faith in 'The Jackal.'
"I'm not worried about Casey and I'm not worried about Hyland.
"And I also think Carl is capable of beating Martinez in a year or less. When he is boxing eight rounds, then doing 10 or 12 rounds is nothing.
"The difference is only in your head. I know he is capable of it and in less than a year he will be breathing down these guys necks."
McGuigan also confirmed opponents for all boxers on the card.
"Out of the six fights, five of them are top class pick-em fights. They are all good, tough fights and the fans will go home happy, that's for sure."
A limited number of ticket are still available, priced 55, 45, 35 and 30 from the Box Office on 028 90334455. For more information log on to www.ulsterhall.co.uk.
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Tuesday 29 May 2012
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