One of Ireland’s finest prospects puts his Commonwealth super-bantamweight title on the line Saturday night at the York Hall in Bethnal Green, London’s most enduring fight venue.
Carl Frampton is based in Belfast, but in a short career he’s not been shy of taking his show on the road. That willingness to travel is entirely based on an unshakeable belief in his own ability, and it’s a belief that’s shared by some wizened old fight-goers on both sides of the Irish Sea. Chief cheerleader is Hall-of-Famer Barry Mcguigan, who also doubles as the young man’s Manager.
Frampton and McGuigan share boxing philosophy and physique, and there’s a decent resemblance in fighting style. Both squat and stocky, able to unleash fearsome body shots and short hooks, there will be much that Frampton can learn from the Clones Cyclone.
Frampton, who goes by the nickname “The Jackal”, has put together eleven straight wins since turning pro two and a half years ago, with seven early nights. In September 2009 he pocketed the Commonwealth 124 pound title with a dominant fourth round stoppage of an out-gunned Mark Quon, and now faces sterner opposition in Scotsman Kris Hughes.
Hughes (15-1, 1 KO) comes to the ring with better credentials. He challenged for this title in October 2010 when he dropped a close decision to Jamie Arthur, but has earned a second go after three wins since that reversal. He’s a slick and slippery southpaw, in the Scottish style, and at 5 feet 11 inches tall he’ll loom over the little Ulsterman.
That said, Hughes is lacking in one key area, and the fact that he’s only managed one inside the distance win in sixteen starts tells its own story. Frampton is a powerful young warrior, and it looks unlikely that Hughes has the firepower to deter him over twelve rounds. Hughes revels in the moniker “The Badger”, so expect the Jackal to gobble him up before the contest’s half-way mark.
On the undercard there’s mild interest in former WBC super-middleweight titleist Robin Reid extending the comeback he initiated in 2011. Reid (41-7, 28 KOs) has looked every inch a 40-year-old since returning, and has lost one of the three fights he’s got involved in against novices and journeymen. On Saturday night he continues in that vein when he takes on Daniel Cadman (14-6, 4 KOs), who holds a regional title but offers little by way of progression for the former world-beater. It speaks volumes that Cadman, who calls himself “Mr. Slick”, will probably be too quick and versatile for his aging foe and should take a decision over the scheduled eight rounds. Presumably, Reid will then accept the inevitable and put his gloves away for good.
Follow us on our new Facebook Fan Page…Click “Like” to follow the source of Boxing’s True Independent Voice.
Leave a Reply