Frampton motivated to give two fingers to his doubters

Carl Frampton‘s form in training has proved to him he is far from done and believes he will produce a display that will tell his doubters to ‘f*ck off’ this coming Saturday.

‘The Jackal’s’ talents have been lauded in recent years but he has picked up on some criticism since his defeat to Leo Santa Cruz and his comeback performance against Horacio Garcia last November.

Rather than block out the negatives the 31-year-old, who faces Nonito Donaire in the SSE Odyssey Arena this Saturday has embraced the nay-sayers and used them as fuel ahead of a fight that he claims is ‘make or break’.

Frampton is adamant he will show he still has a lot left to give by defeating the four-weight world champion in Belfast this weekend.

“I’m very lucky, I’ve got fantastic support and a fantastic fanbase, but I don’t kid myself,” Frampton said on a conference call.

“There are people who would like to see me fall flat on my face and would take great joy out of it.”

“I’m using this as a motivation to prove to people that I’ve still got a lot left. It’s almost like sticking two fingers up to people who think I’m done. Because what I’ve been doing in this training camp, I’m far from done.”

New promoter Frank Warren wasn’t happy Frampton chose Garcia last time out, believing a less aggressive opponent may have suited a fighter returning from a long lay-off and a tumultuous period of change.

The two-weight world champion’s fan base and pulling power means the same could have applied for his April clash. The fan favourite didn’t need a big name opponent to pack the venue that has become known as ‘The Jackal’s Den’, yet the fighter himself wanted a test and that big fight feel.

“I’m at the stage of my career where I need to be fighting names,” Frampton continued. “The smaller fights don’t really appeal to me. Nonito Donaire really is a name, and not only that it’s a risky fight.”

“Potentially I could have fought for a world title in the Summer without fighting Donaire, but when I do fight for a world title I want to be in a position to go and take it off the champion. Beating and fighting someone like Donaire is going to help me to do that.”