Belfast Bye – Carl Frampton unsure if he will fight in Belfast again

Carl Frampton [27(15)-2(0)] isn’t sure whether or not he will ever fight in Belfast again.

The former two weight world champion brought many a big night to his home city, turning the SSE Arena into the ‘Jackal’s Lair’, fighting in a purpose built stadium and selling out Windsor Park on one occasion.

The three weight world title hopeful looked set for at least one more Belfast bonanza, as Windsor Park was muted for a June 13 world title challenge.

The current pandemic put paid to those plans. Frampton’s bid to become Ireland’s first three weight world champion has been delayed- and it now appears as if any fight with WBO super featherweight world champion Jamel Herring will take place in America.

Both fighters have separate summer showdowns lined up – Herring on July 2 in Las Vegas and Frampton in late July early August in London – emerge victorious and they are most likely to fight stateside later in the year.

“I still would like to fight at Windsor Park, whether or not that happens again now, who knows?” Frampton told BBC.

“I just want to win a world title – that’s the main objective and whether it happens at Windsor or whether it happens in America it doesn’t matter.

“But if I ever fight in Northern Ireland again, I want it to be at Windsor Park.”

Defeat Herring and a 2021 summer defence would be welcome in Belfast, although the 33-year-old notes a unification fight would be on the cards.

Persuading a world champion to travel may not be too easy.

“I think my next fight will be a fight, a non-title fight, probably a 10 rounder. Then I’m pretty sure I will fight Jamel Herring to give me the chance to become a three-weigh world champion, that’s what I want to do and possibly a defence.

“If I could unify my second weight division, that would be huge.”