Carl Frampton lashes out at “fickle” online detractors

Carl Frampton [24(14)-1(0)] took aim at his online detractors today.

The Belfast featherweight has been receiving an increasingly steady stream of criticism, with 2017 seeing him lose for the first time against Leo Santa Cruz before being involved in a surprisingly competitive comeback fight against Horacio Garcia.

Frampton admits that he is somewhat annoyed by this chatter and vowed to answer any questions about his standing in the sport on Saturday April 21st.

‘The Jackal’ takes on four-weight world champ Nonito Donaire [38(24)-4(1)] at the SSE Odyssey Arena and is determined to turn in a performance of note.

While Frampton took aim at those taking aim at him, the 30-year-old wants to score a win that will get his doubters back on board.

Speaking at the opening press conference at the Europa Hotel in Belfast today, Frampton conceded that his boo-boys have irritated him “a bit,” noting how “I’m only human.”

“But, when you think about it rationally, the people who are criticising are sitting in their mum’s front bedroom giving you grief on a laptop – it doesn’t really matter what they think.”

“But, I’m only human and it annoys me a little bit. I’ve done a lot in my career and I hope to be able to do a lot more”

Acknowledging the growing band of detractors, Frampton described how “I think some boxing fans are very fickle and I’ve probably been doubted, and I’ve said this before, more than I’ve ever been – by some people.”

“This will answer a lot of questions and this will prove to people that I still have a lot to give.”

That said, while he hit back at those criticising him, Frampton is open about the facet that his most recent win was a far from perfect performance.

The Tigers Bay boxer outpointed Horacio Garcia over ten rounds at the SSE Odyssey Arena in November but, after a strong start, was dragged into something of an unnecessary tear-up, taking a dubious count in the process.

Reflecting on the unanimous decision points win, Frampton outlined how “initially, after the fight, I was probably a wee bit critical of myself. But considering the year I’ve had and looking back on it, it wasn’t a bad performance.”

“I was trying things out that we’d be working on in the gym. I was coasting for the first four or five rounds, but Horacio Garcia is a big, strong lump and he kept coming forward – a typical Mexican-style fighter – and there was things that I wasn’t doing so well. We were working on things in the gym and that’s the difference.”

Frampton assures that the Donaire fight in three months time will be different, explaining how “against an opponent like Horacio Garcia, you can try things in a fight. Against Nonito, you can’t try new things – things need to go well!”

“I think that last fight is going to be a blessing in disguise for me. It was a tough fight and it’s better to have a fight like that where you’re pushed hard and you get the rounds in rather than having a one or two-round knockover job. The last fight has certainly stepped me up for this one.”