CARL FRAMPTON does not suffer fools gladly.
The 27-year-old has little time for the time-wasters and trash-talkers of the boxing community and quickly set about dissecting the credentials of IBF mandatory challenger Chris Avalos. Arriving in Belfast to promote the February 28 show entitled “The World is Not Enough” Avalos immediately began goading Frampton who responded with a scathing assessment of his opponent’s record so far.
“The difference in this fight will be simple,” said Frampton to Steve Wellings. “The two times he’s stepped up he’s boxed two half decent fighters, fringe world class, and both of them beat him. I’m the first world class fighter he’s fought and that’s going to be the difference. Chris, you’re going to get knocked out.”
Carl went on to stress that despite the mass public attention and huge boost in his profile away from the ring he remains as humble and hungry to succeed as ever. The Tigers Bay man has a world title in his possession and is in no mood to hand it over any time soon.
“Chris’ manager says he has come up from the bottom but so have I,” continued Carl. “He doesn’t deserve this any more than me. I’ve been doing this my whole life. He may think this is going to be easy but I’m training for a tough fight.”
Frampton is used to training over the festive period and will enjoy his Christmas despite the rigours of an intense training camp as he whips his body into supreme condition ready for the late February Odyssey Arena headliner. Even though Avalos appears tall for the 122 lb weight class Carl pointed out that the loquacious visitor’s high-heeled shoes represent just another psychological trick. The hometown hero also reckons that his opponent looks like he needs to stay off the sweet stuff over the next few weeks.
“I’m well used to training over Christmas and I’ll be having a nice big dinner but I don’t think this lad [Avalos] will be having a dinner because he looks a wee bit heavy and podgy at the minute so he’ll be skipping the Christmas dinner. It’s going to be like nothing he’s ever experienced before but he does have a point when he says that a ring’s a ring no matter where it is.
“But the atmosphere is noisier here than anywhere he’s ever been and it’s going to be a great night,” said Frampton.
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