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Frank Warren believes Frampton-Donaire will be the best Belfast card ever


Frank Warren is bringing Belfast the best card it has ever seen, according to the experienced promoter himself.

The fight famous city and capital of Irish boxing has hosted some massive nights and famous fights over the years, but Warren believes none can match the ‘Fight Night Live’ bill set to play out in the SSE Odyssey Arena on April 21st.

The BT broadcast card is topped by a mouthwatering clash between two former Fighter of the Year winners Carl Frampton and Nonito Donaire. Then the TV undercard plays host to three eagerly anticipated al- Irish clashes with Conrad Cummings and Luke Keeler, Jono Carroll and Marco McCullough, and Tyrone McKenna and Philip Sutcliffe Jr all fighting each other.

A further ‘magnificent seven’ were confirmed on the card today with unbeaten prospects Lewis Crocker, Tyrone McCullagh, Steven Ward and David Oliver Joyce making up four of that seven alongside three of Warren’s English fighters – Sam Maxwell, Alex Dickinson, and Troy Williamson.

So impressed in the line up that the promoter suggests the Titanic City is about to play host to an unforgettable titanic card.

“Carl Frampton said before his last fight that it would be the highest quality card staged in his home city, but I believe we have now got one that will surpass that November night.”

“It will take some doing but all the ingredients are there. Carl himself is in a prestige punch-up against former four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire, while an undercard has been put in place that would do good business on its own.”

“The matching of Conrad Cummings v Luke Keeler, Jono Carroll v Marco McCullough and Tyrone McKenna v Philip Sutcliffe Jr has also set a lot of tongues wagging, so I am really pleased with how the bill is shaping up.”

“Carl though is really, once again, stepping up to the plate against probably the best away fighter to have fought in Belfast – as far as I can recall anyway. Donaire was really well received there during his visit because they love top fighters in that city. He is also a particularly appealing character – an absolute gentleman – and I think we are in for a bit of a treat with this fight.”

While the attentions and names involved in the main event would suggest that there is world title on the line, this will not be the case.

However the bout, for Frampton at least, is operating as an effective final eliminator for the IBF title currently held by Lee Selby – who defends against Josh Warrington in Leeds the following month.

In addition to this, Warren is in the process of using his subtantial influence at the WBO to deem Frampton-Donaire as a final eliminator for their title – which Oscar Valdez will defend against one Scott Quigg.

The London promoter outlined how “I am hoping to get the winner into the No.1 spot with the WBO, which would be good and increase the potential options for Carl for his proposed summer showdown.”

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