Carl Frampton denies Donaire is a done deal

Hold your horses.

Carl Frampton [24(14)-1(0)] has come out to deny that a fight with four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire [38(24)-4(1)] has been agreed and confirmed.

The Belfast featherweight’s promoter Frank Warren seemingly announced that Frampton would face Donaire last month, while this week the SSE Odyssey Arena stated that they would be hosting the fight on April 21st and even gave a release date for tickets.

Apparently though it’s not done just yet and, while Frampton would love to fight the former pound-for-pound rated star, ‘The Jackal’ has spoken of “other options” for his next fight.

Writing in his weekly column for the Sunday Life, Frampton clarified that “despite reports from various media outlets, no fighter has signed to fight me.”

“Four-weight world champion Nonito Donaire has been mentioned as the guy who could be in the opposite corner and that would be a great fight, a really huge night for Belfast boxing if that’s who it turns out to be.”

The Filipino is a much-desired opponent for Frampton who stressed that ” I would love it if the Donaire fight could coe off and I know that he has already made it clear on social media that he is very keen to see it happen.”

“I think it’s fair to say that everyone in boxing knows how exciting a fight it would be because we have both shown in our careers that we rarely have dull fights.”

“Certainly, if the Donaire fight was to happen then the winner would obviously go on to fight for a world title in the Summer.”

Last Summer saw proposed fights with Leo Santa Cruz and, particularly, Lee Selby fall through despite purported interest from these opponents.

With that in mind, Frampton is reluctant to pin all his hopes on Donaire before a contract is signed, and he added that “there are other options out there for me for April 21st.”

“I’m really looking forward to getting back into the ring for another big fight and for it to be in Belfast is always special.”