Frampton believes Belfast atmosphere the best around

“Big Tony Bellew over there will tell you that Liverpool fans are the best but they aren’t, Belfast fans are!” yelled Carl Frampton shortly after settling down on the ring apron to speak with BoxNation TV. Bellew, commentating at ringside for BBC Five Live, was no doubt grinning away as the diminutive Frampton hollered across the ring. No animosity was intended from the jubilant newly-crowned world champion, still on a high after posting the finest win of his career to date.

Speaking afterwards, once the buzz had slightly died down from his resounding defeat of Kiko Martinez, Carl agreed that he was struggling to come to terms fully with his massive achievement. He was quick to pay tribute to 16,000 fans that turned out to help cheer him on to victory.

“It’s not just boxing but any sport, the atmosphere they can create here for local guys doing well is unbelievable. The support Paddy Barnes gets, guys like McIlroy, the Ulster rugby team, the rest of the golfers. If you’re doing well then people will come out and support you,” he said.

Frampton went on to reinforce his viewpoint that he remains a step or two ahead of domestic rivals like Scott Quigg and Kid Galahad. The latter has been quite vocal himself of late, pining for a chance to engage with his contemporaries (some would say superiors) while Galahad’s team have upped the pressure slightly by making a public offer to try and tempt Quigg into a showdown. Carl is willing to face mandatory challenger Chris Avalos next but ‘The Jackal’ is still nursing sore knuckles that could curtail that bout until next February. On the night Frampton showed how much he has improved since the first Kiko meeting and displayed a set of tools capable of handling any if his 122 lb foes.

“We had a game plan to stamp my authority in the middle rounds. I could’ve outfought this guy if I’d wanted but I had to be smart and use my jab which was working well.

“We had a plan to plant my feet a bit more in the middle rounds which I think I did. Barry thought I did it a wee bit too much but I was in control for the entire fight,” he concluded.