BOXING: Carl Frampton heading for Windsor Park showdown

The Tigers Bay man will be eyeing another shot at a featherweight crown, with WBO titlist Oscar Valdez on his radar as well as the winner of next month’s fight between IBF beltholder Lee Selby and Josh Warrington.

And Frampton pushed his cause with a commanding display against former four-weight world champion Donaire, who gave his opponent a couple of scares but largely came off second best.

All three judges scored the contest 117-111 - or nine rounds to three - as Frampton earned the interim WBO featherweight title.

Frampton, who improved his professional record to 25 wins from 26 fights says his dream of fighting at Windsor Park is all he wants.

“The only thing on my mind at the minute is Windsor Park and I can’t wait to get there.

“Everyone knows how excited I am, I can’t wait for it. There’s not a man on this planet at featherweight that’s going to beat me at Windsor Park.”

Promoter Frank Warren confirmed that outdoor event is next for Frampton.

“We’re going to be in Windsor Park in August and obviously all the bits will fall into place regarding who the opponent will be over the next month or so.”

Donaire started well with a couple of decent body blows in an otherwise unremarkable opening round.

Frampton upped the tempo in the second with a ferocious flurry igniting the contest, and a straight right left Donaire with swelling under his left eye that worsened throughout the fight.

More eye-catching blows came from the home favourite in the third, with a couple of sharp rights finding their way through Donaire’s high defensive guard.

The fighters traded more punishing blows in the fourth when Frampton forced his foe on to the ropes.

Donaire brought his vaunted left uppercut into play in the fifth although Frampton ended the round strongly before using his movement to good effect to beat his foe to the punch in the sixth.

Frampton was momentarily buzzed by an uppercut after forcing Donaire to the ropes in the seventh but responded as he traded fierce blows with Donaire as the Belfast crowd went mad.

It seemed that would be his only moment of danger as Donaire started to slow, with Frampton increasing his lead on the scorecards in the eighth, ninth and 10th.

But Donaire responded to being pushed on the floor in the 11th with some wild hooks that stunned Frampton, who was forced to retreat and he had to hold on as Donaire went in for the kill.

But Frampton closed the show in style although he admitted afterwards: “I didn’t have to get involved in a fight there. Nonito Donaire is a dangerous mn.

“He was a sharp puncher throughout. In the 11th round I was definitely hurt, I’m not going to deny it, but I survived it and that’s what champions do, they survive,” he added,