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Belfast Live
Belfast Live
Sport
Gareth Fullerton

Carl Frampton can conquer the world one more time, say former champions

Former boxing champions Dave 'Boy' McAuley and Hugh Russell have backed Carl Frampton to conquer the world one more time.

Frampton is back in training ahead of an anticipated 10-round, non-title fight this summer.

That should act as a tune-up for a world title showdown with WBO super-featherweight champion Jamel Herring.

That fight was originally scheduled for June 13 in Belfast before the coronavirus pandemic forced boxing into lockdown.

Patience will be key for Frampton as he looks to add to the super-bantamweight and featherweight belts he has already claimed in his career.

The North Belfast fighter accepts he is approaching the final chapter in his career, but former flyweight world champion McAuley believes the 33-year-old has the class and ring craft to add to his haul of titles.

"I think there's every chance of Carl winning another world title," McAuley told BBC Radio Ulster's Sportsound.

Dave 'Boy' McAuley (Presseye)

"He's not finished yet by far. He can punch and box, he can fight. He can do whatever it takes to win a fight.

"He is a smart fighter, so I can't see why he shouldn't win another world title. I would be very surprised if he doesn't.

"He's as tough as you'll get, and is hard to hurt. I firmly believe if this world title fight comes off sometime soon, he will be crowned world champion again.

"I would be very confident in saying Carl will win another world title."

Russell, a former British champion at bantamweight and flyweight, believes winning a world crown followed by a farewell title defence in Belfast would be the "cherry on top" of Frampton's career.

"I have said on record before that I personally think Frampton is the best fighter ever to come out of Ireland, and I don't say that loosely because there have been some great fighters to come out of Ireland," Russell said.

Former British champion Hugh Russell (Presseye)

"Realistically, as we go through our lives, people are getting better at sport. Runners are getting faster, jumpers are jumping further and higher, but it is so hard to judge fighters because we don't have those finishing lines or times.

"Fighters these days are preparing so much different to the way we did in my day. Nowadays you have four people in your stable monitoring you.

"Will Carl win another world title? I think he is capable of winning another one.

"I think it is fair to say that he probably has more of his career behind him, time wise. But I would love to see him win another world title and defending it here in Belfast.

"Maybe a unification fight and finishing on top, that would be the biggest cherry to put on his cake."

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