By Tim McCloskey
Belfast brawler Carl “The Jackal” Frampton will make his return to the boxing ring on August 10 at Temple University’s Liacouras Center after an eight month layoff. The night will mark the second big Irish boxing event at the arena this year and is being promoted by Top Rank Promotions and will be broadcast live on ESPN+.
The former Irish, Commonwealth, European and two-weight world champ’s opponent has not yet been named, but Frampton’s eyes are clearly set on a future bout with current WBO featherweight belt holder Oscar Valdez. Only his fourth professional fight on U.S. soil, the 32-year-old Frampton will start his new title run in North Philly.
After winning the featherweight world title in 2016, Frampton became the first boxer from Northern Ireland and only the second boxer from Ireland to hold world titles in two weight classes (Dublin’s Steve “Celtic Warrior” Collins previously won the middleweight and super-middleweight belts in 1994/1995.) Frampton was named 2016 Fighter of the Year by Ring Magazine, ESPN and the Boxing Writers’ Association of America
But if 2016 was a banner year for Frampton, the next two years proved to be a struggle for the “Brick Fists” of Belfast. After relinquishing the WBA title to Leo Santa Cruz by decision in Las Vegas, Frampton went on to lose another decision to Leeds featherweight Josh Warrington for the IBF belt.
Frampton is also involved in a court case against former manager and trainer boxing legend, Barry McGuigan, over lost earnings.
The two losses in the ring are the only blemishes on Frampton’s otherwise stellar career, but with a win in Philadelphia, he hopes to set up another title shot against current undefeated WBO champ Oscar Valdez and get his career back on track.
“My missus wants me to hang the gloves up, but I’ve told her to give me a wee bit longer,” Frampton told The Mirror.
“I’m really excited. I love it over (in America) and I could see myself finishing my career over there. I could do a couple of fights and I’d like another fight back home.”
“I believe I can win another world title and I’d love a fight with Oscar Valdez.”
Although hailing from the largely Loyalist enclave of Tiger’s Bay in North Belfast, Frampton has received widespread support across all of Ireland’s political divides, and in the United Kingdom.
“I just believe that we’re all the same, really. And that’s it,” he said in an interview.
“Most of all the stuff that’s gone on, the bigotry and the sectarianism is bullshit.”
“I was looked after by Irish boxing from pretty much 11-years-old and was very proud to box for Ireland.”
“I feel like I’m lucky, doing what I do,” he said. “To have been born in Belfast. That’s because of the support I get from both sides. I’m a Protestant guy married to a Catholic and I don’t really nail my colors to the mast.”
“I treat each man and woman how I’d like to be treated myself, and that is what helps to make me so popular. Both communities get behind me.”
“It might not sound like much, but I could sit in a loyalist pub on the Shankill Road or Tiger’s Bay or Rathcoole, but I would equally feel at ease sitting in a Republican pub on The Falls Road or in Anderstown. And I’ve done it, I’ve sat in both and people have been okay.”
Carl “The Jackal” Frampton fights Saturday August 10, 2019 at the Liacouras Center at Tempe University, 1776 North Broad Street in Philadelphia. For more information check www.TopRank.com
In other Irish boxing news, the Jack Costello Boxing Club of Northeast Philadelphia will host the Gleann Amatuer Boxing Club of Belfast as part of the Irish Fall Festival in Wildwood, New Jersey on Thursday, September 19 at Wildwood Catholic High School, 1500 Central Avenue at 7 p.m. There will be 10 sanctioned, amateur bouts. Tickets and more information are available by contacting Brian Costello at (267)231-0227.