Carl Frampton: People keep grabbing me for photos, they don’t get it

The 33-year-old former world champion said it angers him that so many people are not keeping their distance despite the public health warnings.

“The odd occasion I’ve been going to the shop to pick up groceries and people don’t get it,” he said.

“People are approaching me in line and grabbing me for photographs and autographs. I feel like I am a nice guy, but it gets to a point where I’ll have to start telling people to go away.

“This is a very serious matter,” he told BBC Radio Ulster.

‘The Jackal,’ who has a famously loyal fan base that follows him in huge numbers wherever he fights, is now calling on his fans to follow the advice of health professionals.

“I know a doctor who is in the frontline – very much so – as head of the ICU at the Mater Hospital and he’s anxious, he’s worried about the situation, and he’s very worried about what is coming,” he said.

“It angers me that large groups of people are gathering in place, so I don’t know how that makes him feel and the other people working for the NHS.”

Frampton had been due to challenge WBO super-featherweigh champion Jamel Herring for the title in Belfast in June but that showdown has now been put on hold for the foreseeable future.

Pre-fight training camps in England and Spain are part of Frampton’s life so he’s no stranger to periods of isolation away from wife Christine and children Carla and Rossa.

However, on this occasion he finds himself on a virtual lockdown at home with the family.

“We have been socially distancing for a long time now, me the wife and the kids, but the last few days we have been in isolation, keeping ourselves to ourselves.

“We’ve been out in the car and doing some stuff but we haven’t been around people.

“I’m in a lucky position where I can go into the garden with the kids,” he said.

The Framptons have also been trying hard to ensure that their children’s education continues as normal as possible by trying their hand at a bit of home schooling, with Carl as the classroom assistant.

“[Christine] has it all set up and is in control,” he said.

“I just make an appearance every now and again to help out. I think I am more of a hindrance to be honest.

“I’ve one kid who’s not very well behaved so he’s been reprimanded a few times”

With so much experience of being isolated in a small flat ahead of fights, Frampton said it is important for people to use the phone and to facetime call family and friends regularly during the current coronavirus crisis.

“I think that is going to be very important in getting us through this,” he added.

On Twitter he posted the hard-hitting message: “This is not the time to be stupid and selfish. Listen to the advice, stay at home and save lives.”