McGuigan Waits on Matchroom

Barry McGuigan says he does not hold much hope of a long-awaited fight between Scott Quigg and Carl Frampton because of his doubts over whether Matchroom will commit to it.

Promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports on Thursday that "60 per cent of the hurdles" had been cleared in an attempt to make it happen.

He also said there was a desire from both camps to arrange the world unification bout after a previous failure to agree terms.

On Tuesday, Hearn met with McGuigan's sons Jake and Blaine, who handle IBF super-bantamweight champion Frampton, and he was encouraged by their discussions.

While McGuigan admits the fight is a possibility, he has suggested the 28-year-old has other options to consider too.

If an agreement can be struck, it is expected WBA champion Quigg and Frampton would meet early next year.

McGuigan told Second Captains Live: "They've been speaking to Eddie Hearn, amongst others, and Al Haymon about Carl's next fight.

"There's a possibility of the Quigg fight. Maybe it will happen, this is the third time that we have sat down with them.

"Maybe it will happen this time."

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Frampton With Title Shot - McGuigan

Barry McGuigan is impatient for a world title shot for protégé Carl Frampton but feels it is "in touching distance".

The man Frampton stopped in February, Kiko Martinez, won a global belt last month when he beat Jonathan Romero, the IBF super bantamweight champion.

"That shows how crazy boxing can be," said McGuigan, Frampton's manager.

"We are frustrated by it, but also buoyed by the fact that if Martinez can win the world title, we are convinced Frampton will do the same."

Before that, European champion Frampton must see off Frenchman Jeremy Parodi in what has been billed as an IBF world title eliminator at his home city Belfast's Odyssey Arena on 19 October.

"We believe we are in touching distance of a world title shot, but nothing happens unless we get past Parodi," added McGuigan.

"Carl has got to win that fight and look impressive in doing so."

The undercard of the Frampton bill will see Belfast super-flyweight Jamie Conlan take on Hassan Azaouagh in a European title contest.

Irish middleweight champion Eamonn O'Kane from Dungiven also takes on former European champion Kerry Hope from Wales with a Celtic belt at stake.

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Frampton Comes Alive

Carl Frampton successfully defended his Commonwealth super bantamweight title with a sixth-round stoppage of experienced Canadian Steve Molitor at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.

In front of a home crowd Frampton never looked in trouble as he dominated his opponent, putting him down three times on his way to a 15th successive professional win.

Frampton was always able to stay ahead on points, never giving Molitor time and eventually his better work-rate wore his opponent down.

A flurry of punches in the sixth round forced the Canadian to his knees and it was clear he did not want to continue.

Molitor made it back to his feet but, with two minutes 21 seconds of the round gone, the referee called the contest off.

Frampton put his victory down to his preparation.

He said on Sky Sports 1: 'I think it's just all down to hard work. I really pushed myself hard in training.

'I know I can hit hard - I've just got to land the shots. I didn't think he liked the pace that much - that's why I pushed so hard. I made him miss quite a lot (of punches).

'I was just on him the whole time - that was it really.'

Frampton praised the crowd and promised them he planned to have more fights on home soil.

'I want as many fights here in Belfast as possible,' he said. 'The crowd was amazing. I'm not far from a world title. I will fight anyone.'

Frampton's manager Barry McGuigan, the former world featherweight champion, pointed to the quality of Molitor.

'Steve Molitor is not a world champion two times over for no reason," he said.

'He (Frampton) just ground him down and eventually he nailed him. This guy is a fabulous young fighter. We intend to map it out and work towards a world title fight.'

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Frampton to Come Alive with Molitor

Getty Images

Carl Frampton insists he will fire himself into world title contention by beating Steve Molitor in Belfast on Saturday night, live on Sky Sports.

Frampton - who is managed by Barry McGuigan - faces undoubtedly the biggest test of his fledgling career when he steps in with Molitor who is a two-time IBF champion.

The Canadian, 32, claims he too has motivation aplenty heading into the fight given that defeat to the emerging Irishman would realistically spell the end of his world-level career.

But Frampton, nicknamed 'The Jackal', is adamant his desire will prove the stronger and believes an impressive victory will catapult him into the consciousness of the world's best super-bantamweights.

Big fights

"There definitely is a risk, but I'm at the stage in my career where I want to have big fights," Frampton told Sky Sports News HD.

"I want to be propelled to world level and Steve Molitor certainly is world level - he's rated number nine by Ring magazine.

"So if I win this fight everyone's going to know about me, all the world champions are going to have to stand up and take notice."

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Frampton Set to Defend Title

Carl Frampton will feature on the undercard when Carl Froch takes on IBF super-middleweight champion Lucien Bute on May 26.

Frampton is set to defend his Commonwealth super-bantamweight title for the third time against an as-yet unnamed opponent at the Capital FM Arena in Nottingham.

The unbeaten British number three will be keen to impress with top domestic duo Scott Quigg and Rendall Munroe teeing off on June 16.

Frampton will be hoping to face the winner of that match-up, although neither fighter expressed an interest in the Barry McGuigan-managed Frampton on a recent episode of Ringside.

The undercard will also feature Engllish light-middleweight champion Erick Ochieng as well as Matchroom prospects John Ryder and Scott Cardle.

"It's a great line-up and another chance for Carl Frampton to get massive exposure," said promoter Eddie Hearn.

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