Frampton Trainer Insists Best Is Yet To Come
By Terence Dooley
Shane McGuigan believes that IBF Super bantamweight titlist Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (20-0, 14 early) has yet to hit his peak despite some impressive recent displays.
The Ireland-based trainer has got Frampton into prime shape for a defence against Alejandro Gomez Junior in Texas on Saturday night. He told the Belfast Telegraph that his 28-year-old charge will electrify the American fans by building on his win over Chris Avaolos (TKO 5 in February).
“I think the Avalos fight is as good as I have seen Carl,” stated McGuigan. “Avalos had never been stopped, he just had two losses—one was controversial, the other could have gone either way. He was in good form coming off some good knockout wins but his shots were just bouncing off Carl.
“He's an absolute animal at super-bantamweight, he's a freak of nature. People like Scott Quigg don't quite get that message, they just don't understand what he is like. He's made of steel and granite, the punches just go straight off his head and he's developing into a very confident champion. He was always a confident fighter but there's a different sense about him now, he's believing in himself as a world champion. He has that little bit of extra confidence now that he is a champion and he's going to be here for a long time.
He added: “I thought that Avalos was going to last six to seven rounds. The fact he got him out of there in five rounds and the way he did it was very impressive. I asked in between rounds is he punching hard? And he said 'no'. We had asked top coach Freddie Roach about Avalos and he had said that he can punch. But it was such a one-sided demolition—Carl can take all these guys out, it's just a matter of time.”
A recent addition to Al Haymon’s roster of fighters, Frampton will hope to use this weekend's U.S. showcase to chase down Guillermo Rigondeaux, the division’s consensus number one and entice the 34-year-old Cuban into a showdown.
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