CARL FRAMPTON is being lined up to return to the ring in August in the United States.
After considering retirement following Decemberโs shock defeat by Josh Warrington, the Northern Irishman was preparing to fight earlier this summer but the adjournment of his court case with former manager Barry McGuigan means that date will be delayed.
The 32-year-old signed with influential US promoters Top Rank in March and was set to be rewarded by challenging Oscar Valdez. Theย WBO featherweight champion is instead fighting on June 8, but Framptonโs legal matters mean that he cannot be ready.
With it being #MentalHealthAwarenessWeek I want to share this great cause that has been set up called Move Your Mind. Have a look at https://t.co/8eVMScvy9U to find out more about the amazing work they do in using fitness to combat on going struggles. #MentalHealth pic.twitter.com/yj3jALxQuk
โ Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) May 13, 2019
He will therefore not fight for a world title until the winter, by which time one compatriot in Ryan Burnett is expected to have fought dangerous WBO champion Zolani Tete, and another in Michael Conlan will hope to have avenged his controversial defeat by Vladimir Nikitin at Rio 2016.
โFrampton is fighting in August in the US, and then heโll fight for a championship in probably November, December,โ revealed Top Rank promoter Bob Arum.
โHe was going to fight on August 3 but then that date went to Michael Conlan. Iโm going to Belfast, where Conlan will fight. Later on in August, maybe the 10th or the 23rd, heโll be fighting. Heโll be top of the bill.
โRyan Burnett, Frank [Warren, Teteโs promoter] mentioned, we were going to put him on in Belfast but now itโs going to be in the United States.
Champions Weekend is coming to @espn+
Former unified bantamweight world champion Ryan Burnett headlines Friday’s card that begins at 3PM ET.
AND โ Billy Joe Saunders takes on Shefat Isufi for the vacant WBO super middleweight title Saturday at 2:30PM ET. pic.twitter.com/TL4Q1F4BC9
โ Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) May 13, 2019
โHe has Tete heโd like to put Burnett in with. Iโd love to do that fight.
โWe have absolutely no compunction to show fights in the afternoon in the United States, so that they can be in the evening in the UK.โ
Warren, who has developed a close relationship with Arum through their co-promotional agreements with Tyson Fury and Frampton, added: โIโd love to do that fight. Zolani would love to do that fight.
โThatโs why he went into that tournament [the World Boxing Super Series, whichย Tete withdrew from through injury). Thatโs a great fight for Tete; I fancy my man.โ
โผ๏ธANNOUNCEMENTโผ๏ธ
Press Conference, 1pm tomorrow @BalmoralBelfast OPEN TO PUBLIC!!! Looking forward to announcing my opponent and date tomorrow, Iโm sure everyone will be happy with this one!! #TheConlanRevolution pic.twitter.com/hmI2gY9oDO
โ Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) May 13, 2019
Frampton is suing McGuigan,ย his wife Sandra McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions (UK) Ltd, claimingย purse money and other earnings due to him were withheld.
He is also facing an action from his former promoters, who he split with in 2017, for alleged breach of contract.
Lawyers representing the McGuigans have insisted that all of the allegations are categorically denied.