By Jake Donovan

For the past few weeks, there was believed to be an ongoing discussion between respective camps for unbeaten junior featherweights Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg for a mouthwatering clash to take place some time this year. Like every other fight that appears too good to be true, public posturing has taken the place of productive conversation to make the fight a reality. 

The rivalry has extended for years but appeared to be closer than ever to coming to the forefront in terms of getting the two fighters in the ring. 

Frampton—the fighting pride of Belfast, N. Ireland—is coming off of a one-sided knockout win over mandatory challenger Chris Avalos. The significance of the win is that Frampton (20-0, 14KOs) is now free and clear to face whomever he chooses while the International Boxing Federation (IBF) spends the next couple of months determining his next mandatory challenge, which wouldn't be due until late November. 

With room for an optional defense, Frampton hoped it would come in the form of a long-awaited showdown with Quigg (30-0-2, 22KOs), who owns a secondary title but is still viewed as one of the best among a loaded—if not top-heavy—122 lb. division. 

Whatever talks have been taking place apparently came to a standstill—at least according to Barry McGuigan, the former featherweight champ whose Cyclone Promotions now handles Frampton's career.

Their claims are somewhat substantiated by the bold insistence of promoter Eddie Hearn, who through his social media accounts urged fight fans to tune in to Sky Sports News HQ on Tuesday afternoon (1:20 p.m. London time). During that segment, Hearn went public with his claim that an offer of £1.5 million (more than $2 million USD) was being extended to Frampton for a July 18 clash at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England. 

According to McGuigan, the announcement marked the first time in a while they heard from the Quigg side for such a fight, despite Cyclone's best efforts to keep an open line of dialogue.

A full statement was released by Cyclone Promotions: 

“ Cyclone Promotions, who represent IBF World Champion Carl Frampton, are in negotiations with Matchroom Sport, who represent Scott Quigg, to deliver a co-promotion of this eagerly awaited contest in June/July 2015. 

“ Cyclone Promotions have made several attempts to organise a follow-up meeting with Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport to progress these negotiations.

“ Cyclone Promotions and Carl Frampton are therefore surprised by this afternoons public offer from Matchroom Sport to Carl Frampton.

“Matchroom Sport understands Carl Frampton is under contract with Cyclone Promotions. If Matchroom Sport are interested in joining Cyclone Promotions in staging this domestic superfight, we recommend Matchroom accept the invitation for a follow-up meeting.

“If Matchroom Sport does not want to meet, Carl Frampton will make an optional defence of his IBF World Title this summer.”

The bad blood between camps extends well beyond the fighters, whose respective jobs are simply to duke it out in the ring. Frampton previously fought under the Matchroom Boxing banner before shockingly bolting from the company in May '13. 

His last fight under contract with Matchroom was a thrilling 9th round stoppage of Kiko Martinez in Feb. '13. The bout was to date the toughest test of his career, far more savage than his 12-round win over Martinez in their rematch last September. The sequel turned out to be a massive event in Belfast, with 16,000 fans packed into the fittingly named Titanic Quarter to create an electrifying evening in their fun-filled slugfest.

Frampton emerged victorious by decision, ending Martinez' title reign in the process. A single defense has followed, the aforementioned win over Avalos, whom Hearn signed to a co-promotional deal with existing promoter Top Rank in its best efforts to insert Matchroom in Frampton's first defense.  

Meanwhile, much Quigg's time near the top of the division has been spent calling out the big names, but his career treading water while awaiting a big fight to materialize. Five defenses have come of his "regular" title (Guillermo Rigondeaux—also the division's World lineal champ—is recognized as the WBA "super" champion at 122 lbs.), all of which have come since signing with Matchroom in June '13. 

The first full defense was hardly the stuff of which dreams are made, surprisingly held to a draw by Yoandris Salinas in their Oct. '13 clash in Manchester. Far more convincing performances have come in each of his four subsequent performances, including a Hidenori Otake last November. 

Given the building rivalry, it was hoped that this fight would be the one at 122 lbs. to actually materialize. The division boasts a world of talent at the top—Rigondeaux, Frampton, Quigg and Leo Santa Cruz, all of whom are unbeaten—but with little to show for it as big fights simply aren't being produced. 

The boxing world has all but given up on Santa Cruz, who is resigned to accept whatever mismatches are placed in front of him while pledging full allegiance to adviser Al Haymon. Rigondeaux remains high on boxing's most unwanted list, despite finally showing chinks in the armor in a flawed-but-fun knockout win over Hisashi Amagasa last New Year's Eve.

That leaves Frampton and Quigg, a fact not lost on their respective camps, whose efforts in securing a super fight seemed sinceren. 

Hearn has been vocal in his desire to stage a fight between the two, despite the several obstacles that stood in the way. As is the case with most fighters under the Matchroom banner, Quigg is obligated to fight for Sky Sports, while Frampton is backed by network giant ITV. 
Such hurdles were figured to be cleared by simply proclaiming the event a co-promotion, assuming of course that a deal could be reached. 

Regardless of the intentions and motives of either side, at least one party involved wants to see the fight happen and for everyone to work together. 

“My team and I have been in negotiations with Matchroom Sport to co-promote this fight,” insists Frampton. “It has been made very clear to Matchroom Sport throughout the entire negotiation period that this huge domestic fight can only take place as a co-promotion. 

“It is therefore frustrating that Matchroom have deviated from negotiations with this offer.”

For boxing fans, it remains frustrating that none of the top fighters at 122 lbs. can figure out a way to get into the ring.

Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox