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REPORT: Carl Frampton to sign promotional deal with Top Rank


It is being reported tonight that Carl Frampton [26(15)-2(0)] is to sign a promotional deal with Bob Arum’s Top Rank.

The Belfast featherweight is promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions but BoxingScene, citing multiple sources, report this evening that the U.S. giant are to come on board in a co-promotional capacity.

READ: Top Rank to add Saunders, Warrington & Frampton, maybe Dubois

Such an arrangement was confirmed last month for former unified heavyweight champ Tyson Fury and BoxingScene have been informed that this will be the case for many of Queensberry’s leading lights such as Frampton, Josh Warrington, and Billy Joe Saunders.

Recently, Warren, who has a UK TV deal with BT Sport, has been working closely with Arum, who has a US TV deal with ESPN.

Many of the veterans’ shows recent have been shown on the respective opposite network across the Atlantic and then there is the added factor of management outfit Mack The Knife Global, who are extremely tight with Warren, having a new partnership with Top Rank announced yesterday.

In terms of Frampton, the move would look to have implications on his future plans.

The 32-year-old has pledged to fight on and return to the ring this summer following his December defeat to IBF champion Warrington.

Preliminary talks have taken place with WBO champ Oscar Valdez and regarding a trilogy fight with WBA titlist Leo Santa Cruz.

However, with Valdez promoted by Top Rank and Santa Cruz under Al Haymon – a sworn enemy of Arum – it would look like the WBO route is the path Frampton will be sent down.

In addition, at featherweight, the Top Rank stable also boasts Frampton’s managerial stablemate and fellow Belfast man Mick Conlan along with another top prospect in Shakur Stevenson.

While previously proposed, a fight with Conlan has been dismissed by both parties but, over the last few months, Stevenson has repeatedly stated his desire to face Frampton and/or Warrington.

The Tigers Bay man is currently ticking over as he awaits a May court date with previous promoter Cyclone before he will return to full-time camp with Jamie Moore in Manchester.

Frampton has stated that he wants big fights and a Valdez clash in August would look to line up well – although the Ulsterman may want an interim fight first, considering the big gap since the Warrington loss, before an end-of-year showdown with the Mexican.

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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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