Frampton open to massive Belfast-Dublin unification fight with Hyland

Leo Santa Cruz, Lee Selby, and Gary Russell Jr are some of the big names been touted as possible Carl Frampton foes if Ireland’s first ever unified World champion makes the move from super bantamweight to featherweight.

Big names, big fights and big purses, however, there is a potential massive fight closer to home if things go to plan this coming weekend.

Patrick Hyland aims to become the first Irish WBC World champion since Wayne McCullough, and if he dethrones Gary Russell Jr in Foxwoods on Saturday night and buckles the famous green strap around his waist, he becomes a viable option for ‘The Jackal’.

‘The Punisher’ told Irish-boxing.com that he was keen on the all Irish World title fight and speaking in his Sunday Life column this weekend Frampton certainly wasn’t shying away from the contest.

“This time next week Ireland could have another World champion, and who knows if I move up to featherweight and beat Leo Santa Cruz we could have a unification fight between a Belfast man and a Dubliner- now how big would that be,” wrote the IBF super bantamweight World champ.

Despite a potentially massive clash down the road Frampton’s desire for Hyland to emerge victorious this weekend is based on reasons of friendship and not finance.

‘The Jackal’ has sparred with the Jobstown native and knows the Hyland family from his amateur days. The World champ, who claims Hyland should be getting more publicity, knows what it would mean for ‘Pajo’ to claim victory and he hoping for Dublin success this weekend.

“This is the kind of opportunity Pajo and his late father have always dreamed about and I really hope he can pull it off.”

@TheSundayLife @RealCFrampton Sunday column pic.twitter.com/p2QmChy0EN

— Michael McIlwee (@MichaelMcIlwee) April 10, 2016