Matchroom Sports head Eddie Hearn appears to be doing his best to make a fight between his WBA Word super-bantamweight champion Scott Quigg (31-0-2, 23 KO’s) and Cyclone Promotions’ IBF champ Carl Frampton (21-0, 14 KO’s) finally come to fruition.
In an interview with Sky Sports, Hearn revealed his willingness to sign a two-fight deal between the two titleholders in an apparent effort to give both men the coveted home advantage, and subsequently help the loser of the first match save face with an immediate return.
“I’m happy to commit to a two-fight deal – one in November in Manchester, and one in Belfast in the spring or summer. That’s not a problem.”
“A double-header could smooth negotiations. That’s always been discussed. We can agree the split in advance.”
Matchroom and Cyclone have been at loggerheads for as long as serious discussions for this fight have been ongoing. Petty squabbles over who the ‘real’ champion is and the significant issue of location are just two tangible factors that lay uneasily on top of the fact that the two teams just do not seem to get along.
Quigg vs Frampton is the most exciting and lucrative fight in the 122 lb. class and the second go-around will be equally, if not more so, in Hearn’s eyes. So it makes sense to set up the rematch now.
“If it’s a good fight a rematch will happen anyway. Both guys think they will win the fight and move on. But they’ll probably find that, if the first fight is entertaining which everybody knows it will be, then the biggest money in the division remains a rematch.”
Hearn’s proposal could also serve to forgo a second set of negotiations that could realistically last as long as this first set, which nobody wants, especially the losing party.
With both fighters claiming impressive victories on July 18th, the allure of this unification bout remains intact for the time being and Hearn says he is still pursuing it as a priority, but it is not Quigg’s only avenue going forward.
“For us, fighting Frampton remains our favourite option but we’re in deep negotiations with Nonito Donaire about a fight in either Dubai or Manchester later this year.”
That fight will not go unwatched and Quigg isn’t the only one with a suitable alternative on the horizon.
The Belfast man Frampton has just joined the ever-swelling ranks of manager Al Haymon where Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz are also enjoying profitable stays. Either will be available after they fight one and other on August 29th and Frampton would make a good dance partner for the winner or the loser.
It is difficult to tell whether Scott Quigg vs. Carl Frampton is becoming closer to or further away from becoming official.
