BOXING: Steven Ward up for Belfast showdown

Frampton will take on hard hitting Mexican Andres Gutiérrez as he looks to bounce back from his defeat to Leo Santa Cruz in January and Ward admits he saw Frampton’s potential when he defeated David Oliver Joyce in the amateurs.

The pair met four times, with Joyce winning the first three and Frampton earning revenge in the final instalment, just before he turned pro in 2009.

“You could see the quality he had in that fight.

“He just looked perfectly suited to the pro ranks, and Carl has gone on to prove it.

“He has won world titles at two different weights and is one of the pound-for-pound best boxers in the world.

“It is all systems go now for July 29. I am buzzing about it.

“After my last fight everyone was talking about the Frampton fight and it is an honour to fight on Carl’s undercard.”