Photograph: Russell Pritchard/Cyclone Promotions
Carl Frampton moved one step closer to a world title shot by stopping former two-time world champion Hugo Cazares in the second round. Entering the ring to the raucous atmosphere he has become accustomed to, Frampton was out to rubberstamp his credentials and prove that he belongs in the ring with the likes of WBC world champion Leo Santa Cruz.
Photograph: Russell Pritchard/Cyclone Promotions
Red-hot middleweight prospect Conrad Cummings has admitted that moving to London was exactly what he needed to aid his development as a professional. Even though the 22-year-old is still in the embryonic stages of his career, Cummings is already adapting to the new regime set out by trainer Shane McGuigan. Some quality sparring with the likes of former world title challenger Andy Lee will help bring him on even quicker.
Photograph: Matchroom Boxing
Eamonn O’Kane has a big opportunity to cement his place in the WBC rankings on Friday night when he tackles Mexico’s Alvaro Gaona for the WBC’s vacant International Silver title. ‘King Kane’ has been working hard with Bernardo Checa in training and is anxious to impress.
Photograph: boxaldia.com
Alvaro Gaona has travelled a fair distance over to Belfast but the amiable 28-year-old insists that his flight will not be in vain come fight night. The Mexican visitor does not display a brash personality and politely declined when asked to make a prediction before his WBC International Silver title clash with Eamonn O’Kane on April 4.
Photograph: Russell Pritchard
CARL FRAMPTON has been presented with the Boxer of the Year award for 2013 by the Irish Boxing Writers’ Association (IBWA). The award follows the 27-year-old’s European title win over Kiko Martinez and successful title defence against Jeremy Parodi in 2013, with both fights ending in knockout victories.
Photograph: ©Russell Pritchard/Cyclone Promotions
All is well in training camp and the last hard week of sparring is done and dusted. Carl Frampton is mellowing down and readying himself for a WBC eliminator against Hugo Cazares that will, if successful, push him closer to a world title opportunity. Trainer Shane McGuigan has overseen almost 200 rounds of sparring in the build-up and the WBC’s 30-day weight check-in is routinely ticked off the list. Frampton is fully aware that he needs to be in the best shape of his career to mix at such an esteemed level. He admits that with huge prizes within touching distance it is not just about winning his upcoming bout with ‘El Increible’ but looking good in the process.
©Russell Pritchard/Cyclone Promotions
The huge April 4 Odyssey show is sold out and a thrilled Barry McGuigan is expecting plenty of quality bouts to keep an enthusiastic Belfast crowd entertained. The various governing bodies have been contacted and title fights approved. Jamie Conlan will face Benjamin Smoes for the WBO European super-flyweight belt while Eamonn O’Kane will hope to curry favour with the WBC as he tackles Mexico’s Alvaro Gaona for the organisation’s vacant International Silver middleweight title. Four bouts on the night will have belts on the line and if all goes to plan there could be some smaller hall shows planned later in the year for the new breed to flex their muscles on.