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Home Away From Home – Top Rank deal gives Frampton World Title boost


Carl Frampton’s Top Rank and ESPN deal means he will have home comforts when he fights in America suggests Frank Warren.

It was confirmed last week that ‘The Jackal’, who threatened retirement post his second career defeat to Josh Warrington in December, has followed in the footsteps of Tyson Fury and signed a promotional deal with Top Rank.

The 33-year-old will now be co-promoted by Bob Arum’s outfit and Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and will have his bouts broadcast on ESPN Stateside and on BT in Britain and Ireland.

It’s been described as an ‘American Adventure’ for the Belfast boxer, indicating that his fights will now be taking place in the U.S. on Top Rank card.

Veteran promoter Warren believes the agreement increases Frampton chances of regaining world champion status.

The English fight boss points out that the former two-weight world champ now not only has a better chance of facing WBO world featherweight champion Oscar Valdez, but because he would have promotional parity with the Mexican, he now has a better chance of beating him.

“Carl Frampton is now ideally positioned for his next tilt at becoming a world champion again following our collaboration with Top Rank for the promotion of his future fights,” Warren explained in his weekly column.

“Coming off the back of an unsuccessful shot at the IBF featherweight title held by Josh Warrington, the likelihood is that Carl would’ve had to travel in order to challenge the likes of WBO champion Oscar Valdez in any case.”

“Now he will enjoy the lucrative financial rewards and security of doing so as a home fighter, while also being showcased back in the UK and Ireland on BT Sport.”

Of course, with Valdez also being a Top Rank fighter, the new deal’s impact on this match-up would, at most, see it be played on a level playing field.

The ESPN and Top Rank link-up puts a third fight with PBC’s Leo Santa Cruz on the long finger and probably puts paid to a clash with inactive WBC beltholder Gary Russell Jr. However, Warren has a big fight idea for the Tiger’s Bay 32-year-old if he was to overcome Valdez.

Having initally gone cold on a rematch between Frampton and IBF champ Warrington, Warren believes a unification could force a repeat.

The Queensberry chief outlined that “if [Frampton] is successful in reclaiming a seat at the top table – which I sincerely hope he will be – then the natural fight to make would be a big rematch and unification with Josh Warrington, back on British soil.”

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