FROM ‘Nonpareil’ Jack Dempsey and ‘Sailor’ Tom Sharkey, champions of the late 19th Century, through to Jimmy McLarnin then Rinty Monaghan and modern-day icons like Wayne McCullough, Barry McGuigan and Steve Collins, Irish boxing history is littered with legends.
And yet, this weekend, under the desert sun in Dubai rather than Dublin or, even more fitting, Belfast, Carl Frampton aims to lift his own legacy to a level no other man or woman from the Emerald Isle has done before; that of three-weight world champion.
‘The Jackal’ challenges former US Marine Jamel Herring for the WBO super-featherweight title, aiming to cement his place as Ireland’s most successful boxing champion.
I was sat ringside in Liverpool the night Frampton made his professional debut, dropping Hungary’s hapless Sandor Szinavel three times before recording a second round TKO that would precede a glittering 30-fight career.
It's fight week #CAMPFORGREATNESS pic.twitter.com/vX61yJ6ZV2
— Carl Frampton MBE (@RealCFrampton) March 29, 2021
Now 12 years on, the 34-year-old is the former Commonwealth, European, unified WBA-IBF super-bantamweight and WBA featherweight world champion. But Frampton’s not done yet.
“It's a huge fight and gives me the chance to become the island of Ireland's only ever three-weight world champion, and one of the only ever Brits to do it. I've done it the hard way too, as I have beaten champions to win all my world titles,” Frampton says.
“I will do whatever it takes to get my hand raised at the end of the fight. Jamel will be well up for this, but I am too, and I cannot wait to make history.”
However, history is also on the mind of the champion. Herring served two tours of duty in Iraq during his military days and is determined to leave his mark as one of the greatest Marines ever to pull on the gloves.
Former Veteran and Olympian Jamal Herring making his entrance being accompanied by tunnel of military service men #ESPN #GoldenBoy #TopRank #RamirezOrozco pic.twitter.com/ve6ihvQdz8
— Anthony De Leon (@IJustDoNews) September 15, 2018
“I want to be known as one of the best (US) Marines to represent in the sport of boxing, and to continue that tradition of Marines in boxing,” he counters. “I've always been a fan of Carl's. He was named ‘Fighter of the Year’ at one point, and he knows what it takes to win title fights.
“He didn't need this fight; win lose or draw he'll go down as one of the best. But a win here for me solidifies me as a legitimate super-featherweight world champion.”
Herring is 14 months older but dominates the numbers when it comes to physical attributes. He’s 5’10”, five inches taller than the challenger, and boasts a seven-inch reach advantage. He’s also a natural southpaw, the last of which Frampton fought way back in 2012, although he had little trouble with stopping Steve Molitor in six rounds.
Also, the sole stoppage defeat on Herring’s 22-2 record was actually against another 5’5” fighter, when he was stopped in the 10th round by Denis Shafikov back in 2016.
Ultimately, Frampton is the more technical boxer and whilst it may take him a couple of rounds to get to grips with the unabating champion, he can activate his gameplan and box and move his way to the top of Irish boxing folklore forever more.
TIP: Frampton to win on points
