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‘Do me a favour’ – Warrington coach claims Frampton is far from done


Josh Warrington’s father and coach has hit back at suggestions Carl Frampton is done and argues ‘The Jackal’ remains one of the best featherweights in the world.

Sean O’Hagan, who laid out the gameplan that ensured the Leeds fighter won a brilliant world title fight in Manchester on Saturday, had spent his time questioning Frampton in the final weeks of the fight build up.

Indeed, the man with Belfast heritage went as far as to suggest that the former two-weight world champion would endure a ‘pipe and slippers’ moment against his son.

However, after watching Warrington defy the odds again, he hit back at those suggesting Frampton no longer has the capabilities to compete at the top.

“I don’t think that’s the last we’re going to see of him. People saying he’s done after that performance? Do me a favour,” O’Hagan told the Yorkshire Evening Press.

“If Carl wanted to come back and asked to come back with me then I’d have him, definitely. That performance was as brave as you like.

O'Hagan believes Frampton still has it.
O’Hagan believes Frampton still has it.

“He’s not over the hill at 31. You’re over the hill at 38 or 39. Josh trained like a demon because he knew he was in with one of the best featherweights in the world. Carl’s not done yet.”

Warrington set the tone and possibly won the fight in the early rounds. The world champion hurt ‘The Jackal’ early and out worked the pre fight favourite in the opening rounds particularly.

However, O’Hagan claims the early onslaught wasn’t on the pre-fight tactics board.

“I wanted him to stamp his authority and let Carl know we were there. I wanted to take the edge of him psychologically but I didn’t ask him to trade that early.”

“No matter how much you plan and train, a fight can end up being completely different. He went out there and walloped him. They stood in the middle and shot from the hip like two gunslingers.”

“Carl’s from Belfast so he was always going to rally because that’s in his blood. You’d have to knock him out cold to stop him and I don’t think anyone could ever knock him out cold. He’s too hard,” he added before stating Warrington wants another big fight next. ”

“It might help him tick over but if you do that then you’re not being true to the fans or yourself.”

“Go back to the 1980s and nobody ever talked about steady defences. There was an era when you wouldn’t have got away with that, when you’d have been embarrassed to talk like that. It seems to be fashionable now but not for us.”

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Jonny Stapleton

Irish-boxing.com contributor for 15 years and editor for the past decade. Have been covering boxing for over 16 years and writing about sports for a living for over 20 years. Former Assistant Sports editor for the Gazette News Paper Group and former Tallaght Voice Sports Editor. Have had work published in publications around the world when working as a freelance journalist. Also co-founder of Junior Sports Media and Leinster Rugby PRO of the Year winner. email: editoririshboxing@gmail.com

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