Carl Frampton vs Scott Quigg: Frampton open to rematch

A fight finally broke out in round ten with good two-way action. Quigg was nervier of the two as Irishman Frampton landed some early jabs in the second, as the former remained defensive in the third and fourth and the bout was crying out for a combination move to liven up the contest.

“I couldn’t believe it was a spilt [decision]”.

“I knew it was going to be a boring fight”.

Carl Frampton beat Scott Quigg to add the WBA belt to his IBF crown with two of the three judges giving Frampton the nod 116-112 while the third judge had Quigg the victor 115-113 in a scorecard that was bitterly criticized by Frampton and his handlers.

Somewhat unusually, Quigg – known for being more of a pressure fighter – appeared to be boxing on the back foot with Frampton in pursuit of his opponent. Quigg began to have greater success as the fight reached the closing stages with Frampton showing signs of fatigue.

It made me long for the days of Ricky Hatton who, even in the face of far superior boxers, (Kostya Tszyu, Manny Pacquiao, Floyd Mayweather Jr) always pushed forward uncompromisingly, trying to turn the other guys’ lights out; this is how true fighting men should conduct themselves in battle, especially in defense of hard earned World Honors.

Although there was no rematch clause in the contract, there was a verbal agreement that they would do it all again in Belfast if the first fight warranted it. I make the weight easy.

Recently retired horse-racing legend AP McCoy tweeted earlier this week to say he had watched one of Frampton’s preparation sessions and couldn’t wait for the big fight.

That nervousness seemed to transfer into the ring after the opening bell as neither fighter threw anything of real substance in the first round and Frampton possibly won the cagey opener on work-rate as he pawed Quigg with his jab although it was quite level.

“I thought it was a lot wider than that”.

He did so in all but one judges’ eyes as he took the victory by split decision.