Collins: Wins in Leeds and NY could set up All-Irish World title fight
Paschal Collins believes we could have a first ever all-Irish World title fight if Patrick Hyland and Carl Frampton grab wins on opposite sides of the Atlantic,
Just hours after Patrick Hyland fights World-ranked Josh Warrington in Leeds, Carl Frampton challenges three-weight World champion Leo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight strap in the biggest fight in World boxing this weekend in New York.
If both men emerge victorious Hyland’s coach Collins sees no reason why the friends couldn’t fight in Belfast in December.
“The ideal situation would be Patrick beating Josh Warrington and Carl Frampton beating Leo Santa Cruz because then we have a featherweight champion of the World in Ireland and a featherweight who is ranked top five, two Irish men and thats a fight that can happen then,” he told Irish-boxing.com earlier this week.
“It would be a massive fight for Pajo. I would love to see Carl to win and I believe Pajo will win then a defence in Belfast would be huge.”
If Frampton does indeed beat Santa Cruz live on Showtime he will push toward pound for pound status and hence have big name and big money options. Hyland might not necessarily be on his radar, but ‘The Jackal’ has stated he would like a December home coming before agreeing to a Stadium fight in the Summer.
Hyland, if he can make featherweight for one last time could fit the bill for a December Odysey Arena hosted voluntary defence.
The Jobstown puncher missed weight yesterday for his WBC International title fight with the Leeds favourite, but would surely, with proper notice, push himself to make the 126lbs for an all-Ireland clash.
