At the “Irish Center” in Philadelphia on Tuesday night former WBA and IBF Super Bantamweight champion and WBA Featherweight champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton impressed the press and audience!
“Raging Babe” Michelle Rosado did an excellent job introducing and even getting in some key questions during a Q&A! The press was well received by the former champion from Belfast, Northern Ireland. Frampton was as down to earth as you could ever expect someone of his stature. He was also very comical in answering numerous questions.
On Saturday August 10th at the Liacouras Center in Philadelphia on the Temple University campus Frampton, 26-2 (15), will meet Emmanuel “Veneno” Dominguez, 26-8-2 (18), of Augascalientes, Mexico, over 10 rounds. The promoters are Top Rank – Bob Arum, Peltz Boxing Promotions – J Russell Peltz and Raging Babe Events – Michelle Rosado and Queensberry Promotions – Frank Warren, and being aired over ESPN+.
Everyone in attendance was well fed prior to the opening of the press conference. There was plenty of Irish food and no one could say they didn’t have enough to eat!
Frampton answered such questions whose next? “I am not looking past Dominguez for he is a worthy opponent. I expect to win and be in a title fight in my next fight,” said Frampton.
He was asked about who that champion would be and he said “WBO champion Oscar Valdez, rematch with IBF champion Josh Warrington (whom he lost to in his last fight in December of 2018 in a war), or a third fight with WBA champion Leo Santa Cruz (whom he defeated by split decision to win the WBA title in 2016 but lost by a majority decision five months later to Santa Cruz),” said Frampton.
Frampton was asked about young unbeaten Shakur Stevenson, top IBF and WBA contender who has been mentioned quite a bit in the boxing news. Also, WBC champion Gary Russell, Jr., and he said “I don’t count any of them out!”
Frampton said “I expect former (4-division) champion Nonito Donaire to be coming in though I probably shouldn’t have said that yet!” It was to be a surprise obviously. He defeated Donaire in April of 2018. He mentioned being friends with several fighters he had boxed such as former champion Kiko Martinez twice despite a language barrier.
Frampton received the press and others in attendance afterwards signing posters supplied by Raging Babe and plenty of photographs. The undercard is stacked per Michelle Rosado with former WBA champion Jason Sosa, 22-3 (15), of Camden, NJ, looking to get back into the title hunt against Haskell Lydell “Hackman” Rhodes, 27-3-1. This has now been moved up as the main event!
Unbeaten Philly boxers Donald No Love” Smith, 9-0, Olympian Paul “the Punisher” Kroll, 4-0, Sonny “The Bronco” Conto 3-0, and Allentown’s Jeremy “Majic Hands” Adorno, 1-0 are also on the undercard. Also, two-time Olympic Gold Medalist Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez making his debut who defeated Shakur Stevenson in the 2016 Olympic finals.
Asked about being away from his family Frampton said “it is the toughest thing to be away from my wife and two children. My wife was in attendance for the Warrington fight and said “never again!” He talked about hoping to be a legend that his name will be mentioned in pubs and other sporting events. He talked about doing some commentating now and enjoying it and looking forward to it. Possibly fighting until he’s 35 now being 32. He was asked about other fights he would like to see as a fan and he was well versed in mentioning half a dozen or so of them. All in all it was a very pleasurable night for all of us. Thanks Raging Babe, you did an excellent job hosting it!
Unfortunately Frampton in a freak accident from falling concrete hit his left hand and fractured it. The card is still a good one at a good facility.
