Like most boxing scribes, I’ve been fairly stumped all week about picking a winner in Frampton vs Quigg. There just seemed to be no escaping the fact that this is one of those infuriatingly difficult fights to call. Two unbeaten world champions in their prime are about to touch gloves, after all.
But you didn’t come here to read more of that ‘sitting on the fence’ spiel, did you? You’re craving something concrete before fight night, yes?
Well, I do have a prediction ready to spill. How I reached my decision was pretty simple in the end. I emptied my brain of the Tale of the Tape, all analysis and media hype and just asked myself one question: Who, according to my gut, is the better fighter here?
My instant answer was Carl Frampton. Ever since this rivalry began – some four years ago – that has been my answer. Quigg is an absolute beast and certainly isn’t leagues behind his adversary, but Frampton is the clear winner in my eyes.
Yes, Frampton was knocked down twice by Alejandro Gonzalez last July, but I’m over that already. And I’m not about to change my prediction based on one shaky opening round, in Frampton’s US debut no less. Frampton, being a huge favorite in that scrap, seemed to seriously underestimate Gonzalez (like most of us did). Frampton paid the price, had to quickly get his ass in gear, but clearly won the fight.
Some people have been writing Frampton off, saying he’s chinny – and even a phony (seriously?) – but I don’t subscribe to that theory. If there’s one truly ugly facet of the modern game, it’s fans who immediately turn on fighters because of a sole loss or even a few bad rounds. I remember a time when fighters were celebrated – not ridiculed – for picking themselves off the canvas and rallying back to seize victory.
I’ll save that rant for another time…
Anyway, regardless of Frampton’s tougher than expected stateside trip, I believe he has the greater repertoire and will beat Quigg thanks to that superior toolset. Frampton has the power to end the night early, though I don’t see Frampton chasing a knockout against such a dangerous puncher. Not unless, say, Quigg becomes desperate and leaves himself open in a reckless exchange at some stage.
It’s going to be a tough night’s work for Frampton, no doubt. He’ll need to be diligent, wary of Quigg’s constant threat, and focused for every second of every round. That’s a given, of course, since Quigg can turn the tables in this fight with a single punch; we all saw what happened to pressure-cooker Kiko Martinez when he walked onto a knee-buckling uppercut last July.
Now, I could play devil’s advocate and list a bunch more reasons why Quigg can win this bout, but I won’t. Objectivity was the name of the game in this prediction and I’m sticking with Frampton to win a hard-earned decision. Whatever happens, let’s all hope this showdown lives up to expectations.
Frampton vs Quigg Prediciton: Carl Frampton via Close Unanimous Decision
What are your thoughts, readers? Do you see Frampton unifying the WBA and IBF Junior Featherweight titles tonight? Or are you backing Quigg to win this fierce domestic rivalry?
