Frampton Wins Battle Of Champions Against Quigg

By Olly Campbell: For all the hype and talk of 50/50 going in, there was only one winner for the majority of observers in Saturday’s super-bantamweight world title unification between Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg in Manchester, and it wasn’t the ’home’ fighter.

Belfast’s Frampton made the Manchester Arena his own with his famous, raucous travellingarmy of support, who delighted in taking the roof off of thevenue when their man began his ring-walk, a row over dressing rooms that threatened to scupper the contest thankfully resolved by the BBBoC ahead of time.

Kiko Martinez, a former foe of both men, had predicted that Frampton’s skill set would be the difference maker, and it was, with the Belfast man edging a tentative start to the fight by pressing the action and establishing his sharp jab through the guard of a nervous looking Quigg, who ostensibly appeared overawed by the magnitude of the occasion,trainer Joe Gallagher struggling to motivate him in the corner for at least the first six rounds of the contest as he fell further behind, unable to commit.

Frampton trainer Shane McGuigan had promised going in that his man would thrive on the atmosphere in the Arena and his sharper footwork, faster hand speed and superior (dare I say it!) ’boxing brain’ were clearly evident throughout, with Quigg content to almost ’shell-up’, not doing enough to take the close rounds that provided the narrative for the early going.

A right hook from Quigg landed flush in the 5th - his first real success – although he failed to capitalise on it and let Frampton resettle and come right back at him with equally hurtful punches. For all the Sky broadcasting team’s best efforts to convince otherwise, judges are NOT encouraged to score level rounds, and when looking at the fight as a whole, you could be forgiven for thinking judge Levi Martinez (who scored 115-113 Quigg as opposed to 116-112 x2 Frampton) who needs to go to Specsavers.

Come rounds 7,8 and 9, Quigg, motivated by a pep-talk in the corner, came out firing for his best successes of the fight, landing a hurtful left to the head of Frampton, before seeking to target the body. The displeasure of the IBF champion was visible as he sucked up the body shots and oh so briefly looked like he might be hurt enough to capitulate. Yet like a true champion, Frampton continued to fire back and came at a determined Quigg with all he had, pouring on the heat. After a slightly rocky 11th, Frampton again regained control in the final round, refusing to be bowed by the bombs from the Bury native, puttinghis stamp on the contest with some trademark flurries and body shots that eventually negated Quigg and saw the Belfast man claim a more-than deserved split decision and go home to Belfast with both his thousands of happy fans and Quigg’s WBA title.

Other results

vacant WBC Silver super bantamweight title Gavin McDonnell w pts 12 Jorge Sanchez
vacant Commonwealth Featherweight title Isaac Lowe w tko 8 Marco McCullough
vacant British light heavyweight title Hosea Burton w tko 6 Miles Shinkwin
vacant WBC International bantamweight title Ryan Burnett w pts 10 Anthony Settoul
vacant WBC International Silver flyweight title Charlie Edwards w pts 10 Luke Wilton
junior welterweight Josh Taylor w ko 2 Lyes Chaibi
Middleweight Conrad Cummings w pts 6 Victor Garcia
Super Middleweight Marcus Morrison w tko 1 Istvan Kiss
Middleweight Scott Fitzgerald w tko 3 Ben Heap

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February 27, 2016