Carl Frampton "very tempted" by big fights as he continues to weigh up future

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Josh Warrington v Carl Frampton
Warrington defeated Frampton after 12 enthralling rounds of boxing in Manchester

Carl Frampton says he would be "very tempted" to fight again if he was offered either a rematch with Josh Warrington or a bout with WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz.

Warrington defeated Frampton to retain his IBF belt in Manchester Arena on 22 December.

Speaking in his column in the Sunday Lifeexternal-link, Frampton said he was no closer to a decision on his future.

"I would not go back to lesser fights," he added.

After the defeat the former two-weight world champion said he would not rush into a decision over his future, but hinted that retirement was a possibility.

Englishman Warrington said he would like to take his belt to the USA and unify the division next year.

The bout in Manchester was widely praised as one of the most exciting contests of the year, with Warrington beginning at a stunning pace to take control of the fight in the opening two rounds.

"Everything went downhill from the first round," reflected Frampton.

"I give a lot of credit to Warrington and his team because tactically they got it right and on the night everything fell into place for them.

"But, if I had a rematch with Warrington I believe I would beat him - if I stuck to my gameplan."

A third fight with Santa Cruz has been a longstanding desire of the Belfast fighter, who beat the Mexican in their first encounter in 2016 before Santa Cruz exacted his revenge in Las Vegas in early 2017.

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46 comments

  • Comment posted by 10in-a-row-Failure, at 21:17 30 Dec 2018

    @12 Agree, funny thing is McGuigan took his manager Mr Eastwood to court for bad management in the 80’s (Eastwood took him to a very hot outside fight when he was world champion, lost due to dehydration) McGuigan took his fighter (Frampton) back to Vegas to fight Santa Cruz when he shouldn’t have , McGuigan should have known better after what happened to him. Anyway times up Carl , enjoy life

  • Comment posted by You, at 19:57 30 Dec 2018

    I like Frampton, I really do, but time to face facts

    he went into the Warrington fight as a challenger and got beat, courageously, but got beat, he does not deserve a rematch

    Santa Cruz maybe viable, he had to be at the top of his game to beat him, and he hasn't been at that level since the first fight, so again not sure he deserves a shot

    time to take stock and leave with dignity I think

  • Comment posted by NeilB, at 21:29 30 Dec 2018

    Carl needs to get over his obsession with Cruz and move along. Furthermore, he needs to retire because he’s not clearly the fighter he once was. He should go when he still has his dignity intact.

  • Comment posted by Toe2Toe, at 20:23 30 Dec 2018

    Boxers are always the last to know when they should quit.

  • Comment posted by welshboyo, at 21:30 30 Dec 2018

    Think Carl is going through the usual stages for a boxer who deep down knows he might not just have it anymore. He was gracious and accepting after his defeat but now is in denial about the facts. Santa Cruz will beat him convincingly next time and Warrington has too much engine for him. A great fighter but he needs to give things serious consideration

  • Comment posted by SteTee, at 22:24 30 Dec 2018

    If Santa Cruz wouldn't fight you before, why would he fight you now? What have you got that he wants? He ain't coming to Belfast anytime soon when he can stay in America and earn Vegas money

  • Comment posted by George, at 08:27 31 Dec 2018

    The sad thing is old fighters never die I know what carl is going through its the rush and glory feeling I bet if you asked Eubank or Ben they still dream of that last scrap that we all think we have in us .But unfortunately it's all in the head Carl has nothing to prove he has done it all a great lad and fantastic boxer I give it up at 34 and 20 years later I still think I have it lol

  • Comment posted by U16576184, at 22:27 30 Dec 2018

    course he is "Very tempted"...he is skint.
    his legal battle with the mguigans has cleaned him out.

    why would josh give him a rematch? he won convincingly after beating selby, too.
    he has to move on to the states, as frampton did.

  • Comment posted by jacko, at 22:01 30 Dec 2018

    go back for bigger money fights he means, think he is trying to convince himself that he's still at the top of the game plus his new management team have to recoup their outlay in him and also any costs involved with his spat with the mcguigans I thought it was champions and winners who could demand who they fight not the losing fighter and what about those coming up do they not deserve ther time

  • Comment posted by Gael, at 21:51 30 Dec 2018

    Good luck Carl on what ever you do. You are one of the good guys in this place.

  • Comment posted by Smeaton1724, at 19:45 30 Dec 2018

    At that weight class age catches up with the fighters very quickly as non of them have the mass to knock people out every fight so 6-12 rounds is the norm for a fight. At 30+ years of age that is a monstrous volume of punches thrown and taken in a good career. No game plan can beat age. Retire fighting at the top.

  • Comment posted by heaney23, at 22:33 30 Dec 2018

    Sorry Carl, the game is up. You need the big money fights as the McGuigans could put you in the poor house. I don't blame you for wanting to have a nest egg for a very uncertain future. I hope and pray you have deep pockets

  • Comment posted by sabre84, at 20:33 30 Dec 2018

    @ 2 Red Star

    pmsl so if being a 3 time world champion makes someone a loser, I'd love to know what your call yourself

  • Comment posted by peopleshernandez, at 21:17 30 Dec 2018

    throw the british trainer in the bin and hire a american trainer or a mexican trainer.

  • Comment posted by Dave Day, at 21:01 30 Dec 2018

    I don't think Carl is finished but as @Theharshtruth said a change of trained a good idea. Not sure he can climb the mountain again. I personally think he is a little to easy to hit now and the engine isn't what it was.

  • Comment posted by BG1962, at 20:30 30 Dec 2018

    Frampton is a credit to the sport and has achieved things most boxers can only dream about but I am not sure he can hit the level and quality required for the top fights now. He will always put up a good performance but it would good to see him retire in full health and not just become a name to collect on up coming boxers CV's.

  • Comment posted by benjie, at 14:32 31 Dec 2018

    Post office@1
    He beat a fighter, not at his best, on points. That's not ruining anyone.
    Come back when he unifies titles, holds them at different weights and travels away to beat ppl like LSC - or KO's a few.
    Belfast, with less than half Leeds population, still has more current WC's than Leeds has had in their entire history.

  • Comment posted by yandaman, at 21:55 30 Dec 2018

    Many worse fighters get to do it so why not Carl. Khan and Briner make a living from losing and getting $$$$ fights and shots

  • Comment posted by U16576184, at 19:32 30 Dec 2018

    you would beat warrington? no mate, you wouldn't.
    your game plan didn't work last time cause warrington didn't care about it.
    he steamed out and ruined you. end of.

  • Comment posted by JesterGoose, at 21:31 31 Dec 2018

    37. Posted by Stevie Gewizz on

    "Mayweather done it late 30s at the time. Carl gets his mindset right, he can do whatever he wants."

    Not the best comparison though. Mayweather was a defensive master who avoided taking serious damage.

    Frampton, by all accounts sparred excessivley and lifted silly amounts of weight. Frampton has far more miles on the clock than Floyd, make no mistake.

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