Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg go head-to-head on July 18th. On ITV, Frampton defends his IBF super bantamweight title for the second time against Mexico’s Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. in El Paso, Texas. The Premier Boxing Champions bout will be ‘The Jackal’s first fight in the U.S as well as his first since taking Al Haymon on as an advisor. Across the Atlantic in Manchester, Scott Quigg takes on Kiko Martinez in what will be the toughest test of the Bury man’s career so far.

The pair had looked set to face each other this Summer, however the bout was to fall through with conflicting reports coming from both camps as to why the fight has yet to materialise.

Writing in his weekly column for The Daily Mail, Quigg’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, commented on the opponents of both fighters saying: “I promised as soon as the Frampton fight fell through that I would put Quigg in a real fight and one that was tougher than whatever Frampton takes. I couldn’t have been more right!”

Analysing Frampton’s next foe, Hearn continued: “On the same night Quigg fights one of the absolute best in the division, Frampton fights in El Paso, Texas against Alejandro Gonzalez – ranked the 13th best super bantamweight in Mexico. They are already giving away tickets for free!”

Hearn then hypothesised the atmosphere that will face ‘The Jackal’ when he steps through the ropes in El Paso claiming that “It will be strange for Carl to fight in such a muted atmosphere. Look at Frampton when he fights in Belfast – there is always a packed crowd and a buzzing atmosphere. These American fight nights are very flat and Frampton’s introduction to the US market feels like it will be quite tame.”

Hearn concluded that he has his “fingers crossed that both men come through OK because I am still fully committed to making that Quigg-Frampton fight next.”