CARL Frampton is “excited again” as he looks forward to returning to the ring at the SSE Arena on November 18.
‘The Jackal’ is determined to finish a disappointing year – that included a first loss and a split from long term handlers Cyclone Promotions – in style against and as yet un-named opponent.
Frampton will top the BoxNation/BT Sport bill, but chief support will be MTK stablemate Jamie Conlan who gets his long-awaited world title shot against IBF super-flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas.
Also confirmed are WBO European flyweight champ Paddy Barnes and South Africa’s two-weight world champion Zolani Tete.
Frampton has his sights set on a Windsor Park blockbuster next May/June but could also be in action next March and, if a world title shot comes up then, he says he’ll take it.
“I’m excited again,” said Frampton, who has settled quickly into training with new coach Jamie Moore.
“I’m enjoying training in the gym and I’m enjoying the company I’m with and the people that are around the gym. It’s good craic, there are no egos, people take the mickey out of each other and it’s good fun.
“You need to be happy and I think, at this stage of my career, I’m very happy now. Everyone is expecting Jamie to say that the best is yet to come but I believe that.”
He promises fans an “explosive” performance on November 18 against a credible opponent.
“I was the Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year last year so I can’t go and fight a journeyman or a mug; it needs to be a good name,” he said.
“I’ll get back to winning ways, I’ll look explosive, put in a good performance and then move on to next year and look at the big boys after that.”
