Seemingly welcome tidings have arrived from IBF World super-bantamweight Carl Frampton (21-0, 14 KO’s) on the back of a arguably career-best performance against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr.
The Belfast man battled back from two first-round knockdowns -his first as a pro- to put on a decisive, exciting and at times gutsy display against a valiant 22-year-old who looks set to replicate his father’s stellar career.
At times, there were dogged exchanges, and sickening body shots landed on both men, but it was Frampton who emerged the deserved victor with the overall cleaner work; his beautiful technique, and fitness carrying the day.
Now Frampton has reignited talk of a unification fight with the WBA champion, Bury’s Scott Quigg (31-0-2, 23 KO’s), whose two-round demolition of Kiko Martinez ran simultaneously with Frampton and Gonzalez’s war last Saturday night.
Speaking with BBC Radio and reported on World Boxing News Frampton said of/to Quigg:
“The message is bring it on if you want, but remember who the A-side fighter here is.”
“When you come to negotiate you can’t be making too many demands.”
“If he really wants the fight, I’m happy to fight him in his own backyard, but we just need to remember who’s the boss when it comes to negotiating.”
Some of you may be thinking this sounds reasonable enough, but most will remember that similar comments brought the last round of negotiation between the two camps to a screeching halt earlier this year.
Quigg’s Matchroom Sports and Frampton’s Cyclone Promotions have been unable to hash out a deal to bring these two great little fighters together. They just don’t see eye-to-eye on certain things, mainly who the A-side is, i.e. the fighter who dictates the terms of the contract that is signed in order to make a bout official.
On that subject not man fans really cares as long as the fight is made, and ironically it is they who will be missing out the most by not seeing two of the best 122-pounders around pit their belts and skills against one and other.
