By Edward Chaykovsky
Things are heating for Saturday's big showdown, when undefeated 122-pound world champions Carl Frampton (IBF) and Scott Quigg (WBA) collide in at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
The massive unification between Frampton (21-0, 14 KOs), of Belfast, Ireland, and Quigg (32-0-2, 23 KOs), of Lancashire, United Kingdom will be televised live on SHO EXTREME at 5:30 p.m. ET/PT.
There will also be an encore presentation of the bout on Showtime immediately following the live telecast headlined by three-division world champion Leo Santa Cruz and former titlist Kiko Martinez.
Frampton was always a clear favorite to win this fight. A lot of doubters have crept in since Frampton suffered two knockdowns in the first round of his last bout against Alejandro Gonzalez.
The Belfast star has promised a performance that will make everyone jump out of their seats with their mouths wide open.
“People haven’t seen the best of me yet and any of the doubters, this is going to be the fight that makes them sit up and say: ‘F** me, Frampton can actually fight’,” said Frampton to BBC.
"[In] every single sparring session I’ve been trying different things out and I feel like I’ve been flying in the gym, and if I keep doing what I’m doing, it’s going to be an easy night. I had my last spar the other night and David Haye was in the gym; he described it that I was like a prime (Yuriorkis) Gamboa,” added Frampton, referring to the precocious Cuban talent.
“I don’t want to get carried away with the crowd and stuff, and the hype of the fight. If I’m clever in this fight, stay switched on and stick to the game-plan then it’s going to be one-sided, so that’s what I intend to do. I’m not going to get over-eager and do silly things, but if the chance comes I’ll take him out."
