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“I don’t know if I’ll ever watch it” – Defeat a bitter pill to swallow for classy Carl Frampton


Carl Frampton takes some solace from the fact he was involved in what Frank Warren describes as ‘the greatest fight he’s ever seen in Britain’.

However, the now twice-defeated Belfast featherweight admits that it will be tough to watch back the epic twelve rounds he shared with Josh Warrington last weekend.

Frampton challenged for the Leeds boxer’s IBF title at the Manchester Arena but was beaten on a unanimous decision.

Following a torrid first-half of the fight where he was hurt and had to dig deep, Frampton came back well down the stretch but it was not enough to dethrone the relentless Warrington.

Bitterly disappointed after what he describes as the best camp of his career, Frampton notes how “it’d be a hard one to watch and honestly, I don’t know if I’ll ever watch it.”

“I’d watch it if I’d won it!” added the 31-year-old with his trademark wit.

Like following his rematch defeat to Leo Santa Cruz in Las Vegas almost two years ago, Frampton has received plaudits for his sportsmanship and how he reacted to the loss.

There were no claims of controversy – or even calls for a rematch – and the Ulsterman admitted that Warrington was the better fighter on the night.

Having entertained those who watched the BT Sport Box Office and ESPN+ bout, ‘The Jackal’ described how “people seem to think it was a good fight and if you’re ever going to lose a fight, at least make it exciting, I suppose.”

Bruised up, Frampton paid tribute to his team, outlining how “it’s a hard game when you’re involved in fights like that and come out with a head like this.”

“What I’d like to do is thank everyone who’s been involved in my gym for the last 18 months – Jamie Moore, Nigel Travis and all the boys in the gym.”

“This past year and a half of my career has been the best.”

dpg

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Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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