SPANISH hit man Kiko Martinez is said to be next on Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton’s hit list, but Steve Molitor is also on the Commonwealth champions radar.

Eddie Hearn is trying to make a September European title match up between Bernard Dunne’s defeater and the rising Belfast star.

“I honestly don’t know who the opponent is but we are looking at Kiko Martinez if things can be sorted out, because he’s having some managerial problems but hopefully we can get him,” enthused Carl.

“To be honest the more this goes on, the more I wonder if he really wants it because there are fewer obstacles in the road and I don’t know what the problem is. If we can’t get him then Steve Molitor has sort of called me out on Twitter and he’s been conversing with Barry [McGuigan] about a possible fight. He’s a bigger name than Kiko worldwide, but people here would know Kiko obviously because he knocked Bernard Dunne out, but if we don’t get Martinez then there are still options.”

Steve Molitor is indeed a big name, having mixed with the likes of Celestino Caballero and Takalani Ndlovu during a 12-year career that once saw the classy southpaw travel to Hartlepool and dismantle local man Michael Hunter for the IBF super-bantamweight crown back in 2006.

“Molitor’s Canadian so it could be a Commonwealth title fight as well as an IBF Intercontinental defence,” added Frampton. “Either way, it certainly makes sense. Plus, he’s highly ranked, a former two-time world champion and it would be a big scalp for me to have on my record.”

Frampton will fight in Belfast for the first time since last September

The rising Belfast star might know who he is fighting next but he knows where the bout will take place. Frampton will be coming home and fighting in Belfast.

With Martin Lindsay now moving into line for a crack at British and Commonwealth featherweight king Lee Selby, perhaps another mammoth fight card could be on the cards.

“The Ulster Hall and the King’s Hall were, in years gone by, the big venues for boxing in Northern Ireland but now we have the Odyssey and it could be the one that everyone wants to go to. I hope to be fighting for world titles and winning them in the Odyssey,” said Carl.

The Tigers Bay prospect was last seen extending his winning streak to 14-0 (9 KOs) on the undercard of Carl Froch-Lucian Bute, by posting a wide decision win over rugged Mexican Raul Hirales – adding the IBF Intercontinental belt to his trophy cabinet. The 25-year-old showed an added dimension to his game, using slick movement and a back foot boxing style to outfox his rangy opponent.

“I didn’t use the jab enough against Hirales and I tried to pressure him but even though I boxed on the back foot well, I could have used the jab more,” he lamented. “Anyone who saw me box as an amateur knows that I like to fight going backwards. I’m a 12-round fighter and I did the distance quite easily; a win’s a win and it was a good performance from me. The fight was broadcast in America on the Epix channel and apparently they were impressed with the performance. We had a game plan and I stuck to it and basically did what I was told.”

Two potential future opponents, Rendall Munroe and Scott Quigg, recently clashed in Manchester and the winner would no doubt have been interested in a clash with the Belfast boxer. The bout ended prematurely, however, when a clash of heads resulted in a nasty laceration above Munroe’s right eye, bleeding profusely and impairing the Leicester man’s vision. Viewers were collectively left none the wiser as to who was the better man.

“It only went a couple of rounds and I scored it one round apiece but the cut was bad and there’s not too much you can say,” admitted Frampton. “They will probably have a rematch and before the fight I was leaning towards Quigg winning. Munroe was fired up at the weigh-in though and he looked in great nick as always, better than he’s ever looked.”

A fight with either man will keep brewing for now, as Carl remains thoroughly focused on his next assignment and another opportunity to bring big time boxing back to the hungry Belfast fight fans.

“I’m just ticking over at the minute, it’s a long time to go before my next fight and plenty of time to train. I try not to get too much out of shape so there’s no rush getting the weight off. I’m just looking forward to a great night of boxing against a quality opponent.”