Video: Frampton vs Donaire Weigh-In

By Boxing News - 04/20/2018 - Comments

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Carl Frampton was full of sound and fury at the weigh-in for Saturday’s colossal clash with five-weight world champion Nonito Donaire in Belfast.

‘The Jackal’ looked sensational on the scales as he clocked 8st 13lb 3oz and then seized another opportunity to shine when a microphone malfunctioned. Shouting out the reading to the crowd himself, the hundreds who had packed the Europa Hotel’s ballroom roared back.

Donaire was also comfortably inside the featherweight limit at 8st 13.5lb but despite the Filipino ingratiating himself to the locals at Thursday’s public workout, the time for light-hearted hospitality is giving way to gravitas.

While retaining graciousness and voicing his respect for Donaire’s illustrious achievements at every opportunity, Frampton has exuded a calm seriousness all week as he prepares to secure another world title shot with a career-best performance.

There were words between the rivals in one of the undercard’s standout fights as super-lightweights Tyrone McKenna and Anto Upton exchanged pleasantries.

McKenna said afterwards: “He put on his earphones so he couldn’t hear me but I was reminding him that he’s only had four weeks to train for facing me and that’s not enough.”

Upton responded: “I didn’t hear anything butt if that’s what he’s going off to give himself confidence, I don’t care. I do my talking in the ring and this time the conversation is going to be short and sweet.”

All MTK Global fighters were successful in making their weigh-in targets as McKenna, Upton, Conrad Cummings, Luke Keeler, David Oliver Joyce, Lewis Crocker, Steven Ward, Sam Maxwell, Marco McCullough, Tyrone McCullagh, Troy Williamson and Alex Dickinson clocked in.

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Carl Frampton believes a loss to Nonito Donaire could spell the end of his career.

The Belfast boxer steps into the ring this Saturday night against four-weight world champion Donaire in front of his home city fans at The SSE Arena in a colossal fight that can be watched live on BoxNation.

31-year-old Frampton, who has just one loss on his record in 25 fights, is looking to become a world champion again like the highly-respected Donaire and believes that a loss could mean the end for one of them.

“Look at what he’s done in the ring and what’s he achieved. What I’ve done has been overshadowed by what he’s done. He’s a quality fighter and achieved a hell of a lot,” Frampton told iFL TV.

“He’s dangerous because I think we’re in a similar position maybe – last chance saloon – where a loss could be the end. I’m not thinking about that.

“I’ve done everything that’s been asked of me in training camp and I feel like it’s been a quality one,” he said.

Ulsterman Frampton also feels people are underestimating Donaire ahead of the fight but has insisted that he certainly isn’t one of them.

“I get the impression people are writing Donaire off [thinking he’s past it]. I’m not writing him off and that’s the important thing. I don’t think I can get carried away with that too much,” said Frampton.

“I’m preparing for the best Nonito Donaire there’s ever been. It’s been a long training camp. He’s had time to prepare and is a solid professional.

“I’m sure he’s done everything that’s asked of him in training like me. It’s going to be a good night,” he said.

Though he is aware that he must first get past the major test that ‘The Filipino Flash’ will set him this weekend, Frampton could potentially win the interim WBO belt and be set to face world champion Oscar Valdez next up.

“Valdez would be an unreal fight – it would be nothing but fireworks. That fight appeals to me at the minute,” he said.

“Leo Santa Cruz is fighting in June so that rules him out for an August fight. Hopefully we can do the third one at some point,” Frampton said.

Saturday’s massive evening of boxing also features WBO bantamweight champion Zolani Tete making the second defence of his title after his world record-breaking KO win in November against the experienced Argentine Omar Andres Narvaez.

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