09 October 2023 , 21:05
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For many he is Ireland’s best boxer, but Carl Frampton is not so sure.
Yes, he’s Northern Ireland’s only two-weight world champion and the finest fighter to come from the Province. But he feels he falls down in the claim to the greatest from the whole island because he failed in his attempt to become a three-weight world champion.
His bid against Jamel Herring at super-featherweight ended in defeat in 2021 and Frampton announced his retirement immediately afterwards. The Belfast fighter is content to leave that debate to others and is happy just to be considered.
“I’m very happy with my career, a two-weight world champion, the only one from Northern Ireland,” he told Mirror Sport. “One of three from Ireland to do that - myself, Steve Collins and Katie Taylor. I tried for a third weight, it didn’t work out, but that doesn’t bother me any more.
“I’m happy. I’m never going to say I’m the best fighter Ireland has ever produced. I may have if I had become a three-weight world champion. But I’m not a three-weight world champion and I’m just happy to be in the conversation.”
What Frampton is proud of is appealing to both sides of the political and religious divide in Northern Ireland. Thanks to boxing, the Protestant, who is married to a Catholic, has friends in the loyalist and Republican communities, which is a very rare thing.
“Yeah, but I’m not some peace negotiator, I’m just being myself,” he said. “People supported me from both sides of the religious community and that’s something I’m very, very proud of.
“Boxing is where I did my integration and it’s through boxing I have the outlook on life I do. I have mates who have Republican beliefs and vote for parties I don’t vote for. So what! That’s the way the world is and you don’t have to fall out with people because they have different political views.”
Frampton, who has launched his autobiography, is enjoying life and has just brought out a whiskey called Stablemate and is a pundit on TNT Sports. He will be working on his pal Tyson Fury ’s exhibition fight with Francis Ngannou later this month and then against Oleksandr Usyk for the coveted undisputed world heavyweight title.
Frampton feels Fury is a total one-off who defies all logic. “How is he so fleet of foot when he has belly hanging over his shorts?” he said. “He spars loads and loads, so why is there no wear and tear? Why has he not started to slow down yet?
“AJ is just an athlete and out of him and Fury who can jump the highest? AJ. Who can run the fastest? AJ. Who can punch the hardest? AJ. But in a fight you would pick Fury to beat him.”
- ‘My Autobiography’ by Carl Frampton, published by Merrion Press, is out now.