Frampton Not Impressed By Canadian Veteran Molitor’s Rubbishing

Carl Frampton believes Steve Molitor is in for a shock at Judgement Day live on Sky Sports on Saturday night, September 22, and will make the Canadian pay for a lack of respect.

Molitor touched down in Belfast yesterday and instantly warned Frampton that it was “too soon” for him to step up to face him.

The Jackal is a favourite over The Canadian Kid but the visitor believes he can upset the odds and take Frampton’s Commonwealth and IBF Inter-Continental super bantamweight titles back across the Atlantic with him.

The two-time IBF champion has stoked the fires but the Belfast boy insists the 32 year old's words will not affect his confidence ahead of the biggest night of his career to date on Saturday.

“He’s said a few things about me in the build up and he obviously likes to talk a bit – that’s fine,” said Frampton. “All that matters to me is victory on Saturday night and doing it in the best possible way for the fans. He won’t have any friends in the Arena on Saturday and his words won’t be able to help him then.

“I would love to fight him right now, I’m totally ready. This is a massive fight for me, I know that I am leaping up the levels to face Molitor but I believe I have more than enough to cope with him and this is the right time for me to prove I can cut it at the top.”

At 25 years of age and with just 14 fights under his belt, Frampton is still considered to be in his apprenticeship years and he has also had to cope with the change of opponent after Kiko Martinez dropped out of their proposed European title clash. Frampton believes that Martinez’s withdrawal is the best thing that could’ve happened to the night though, with the hot young prospect relishing adding Molitor’s name to his list of victories.

“I want to be a worldwide star and no-one knows Martinez in America,” said Frampton. “He’s a big name in Ireland but Steve is such a bigger name than Kiko as a two-time World champion and a better boxer too.

“You want big names on your slate and Molitor is definitely a big name. It’s going to be a lot better beating a guy like Steve Molitor than it was beating Prosper Ankrah. It’s going to make people stand up and take notice. This is a 50-50 fight. People forget I’ve only had 15 fights but I get a lot of stick on the internet and forums about ‘Frampton hasn’t boxed anyone’ and all this.

“The last time Kiko pulled out he only gave us ten days notice, this time he was generous enough to give us six weeks. It’s just something that happens, I didn’t want Martinez to pull out but it wasn’t a surprise that he did, but Molitor’s been training and in my opinion he’s a tougher fight. I’ve coped well with the change and it’s a bigger fight – plain and simple. I can’t wait.”

Frampton tops a fantastic night of action in Belfast with Paul McCloskey is aiming to get back into title contention and he takes on WBA ranked American lightweight contender Manuel Perez and McCloskey’s fellow Dungiven fighter Eamonn O’Kane also in action.

Martin Lindsay challenges Lee Selby for the Welshman’s British and Commonwealth featherweight titles while fellow Belfast fighters Jamie Conlan and Dee Walsh will also be in action, and Team GB stars Scotty Cardle, Kal Yafai and Martin Ward all continue their pro education in Belfast.

Tickets are on sale from the Odyssey Arena box office on 028 9073 9074 and at www.odysseyarena.com – tickets are priced at £30, £40, £60 and £100.

Ringside VIPs tickets priced at £150 are exclusively available from Matchroom Sport on 01277 359900 and at www.matchroomboxing.com.

McCloskey and O’Kane’s fans can also buy their tickets at the prices above from Eurospar Dungiven and any EuroXchange outlet.