Carl Frampton explains reason for Cyclone and McGuigan split

Carl Frampton has explained that his high-profile departure from Cyclone Promotions was in order to “get the big fights that I want” and exert more control over his career.

‘The Jackal’ last month announced that he was to depart the McGuigan-run outfit, leaving behind manager Barry and trainer Shane.

While the move has been tough for Frampton [23(14)-1(0)], he claims it is one that he needed to progress his career.

2017 has not gone to plan for the Belfast man. After losing his WBA title to Leo Santa Cruz in a Las Vegas rematch, the Mexican-American was unable to be enticed over to Belfast for a Summer showdown at Windsor Park. A mooted fight with Lee Selby also fell through, and unheralded Mexican Andres Gutierrez was the fighter eventually secured.

This fight, which was due to take place at the SSE Odyssey Arena rather than Windsor, would fall through following a freak injury suffered by Gutierrez the night before, with Jaguarcito slipping in the shower and badly busting up his face.

Frampton announced that he had parted ways with Cyclone, who are still to release any statement or comment on the situation, a few weeks later – however the move was seemingly put in motion a while ago, with Frampton resigning from a directorship with the company the week before the proposed Gutierrez homecoming.

Still obviously a delicate situation, the move has been a hard but necessary one for Frampton.

In his first interview since the split, Frampton admitted to Andy Watters of the Irish News that “it has been difficult. I had a great relationship with all the McGuigans.

“Barry has been a great friend and mentor to me, Shane McGuigan as well – I was at their weddings, they were at my wedding.

“But I just felt it was time for me to develop my career. I had great times with them and I did a lot of good things with them, we had some amazing nights that I’ll never forget.

“But I took a decision that for me to develop my career and get the big fights that I want, I had to move on. I want to do my own thing and that’s it, to take my career to the next level I want to move on.”

In terms of what’s next for the Tigers Bay 30 year old, he seems set to link up with trainer Jamie Moore.

On the business side of things it’s less clear. A closer relationship with U.S. adviser Al Haymon looks likely, while Matchroom Promotions boss Eddie Hearn has been outspoken in his desire to re-sign the Ulsterman.