Quality over quantity for Frampton ahead of homecoming bout

Irishman takes on Garcia in Belfast

Carl Frampton is back. And, hopefully, the former WBA featherweight champion returns with a bang.

The ‘Jackal’ returns to the squared circle against Mexican Horacio Garcia on Saturday night at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

It will be the first time Frampton has fought since his defeat to Leo Santa Cruz back in January. A lot has happened since that night.

New Era

A homecoming fight against Andres Gutierrez was cancelled. First Frampton failed to make weight, and then Gutierrez injured himself later that evening.

Three weeks later, the Ulsterman split with Shane and Barry McGuigan, his trainer and promotion team. The official reasons are still unknown.

Frampton is now training with Jamie Moore, the 39-year-old ex-European, Commonwealth, and British light middleweight champion.

A fire has been re-lit under the former featherweight king. He has spoken about how his love for boxing has returned.

Sparring sessions have reduced greatly to the point where it is now quality over quantity. It will be of great interest to those watching around the world if Moore has sharpened his skill set.

Frampton has spoken at length in various interviews about how he has dropped sparring partners in training with body punches.

That is a staple of any Mancunian boxer’s artillery – those vicious hooks to an opponent’s kidneys.

Garcia isn’t expected to cause too many problems for the home fighter. The 27-year-old from Guadalajara has fought mostly in Mexico.

In seven fights outside of Mexico, he has lost three – and none of those fighters were anywhere near Frampton’s level.

What’s in the pipeline?

The aim here will be to tune the Jackal up for bigger fights. His main aim seems to be a second rematch with current WBA champion Santa Cruz at Windsor Park this summer.

Failing that, Lee Selby is another potential domestic biggie. Josh Warrington has also been mentioned but is unlikely to use up his forthcoming world title shot against Frampton.

Either way, the Coral News Team is delighted to see the Northern Irishman back doing what he does best, and doing it with a smile on his face.

At 30-years-old, Frampton has plenty of potentially glorious years of his career left to run.

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