AUSTRALIAN outsider Luke Jackson believes Carl Frampton’s career will be “pretty much over” if he beats the Belfast boy in his own back yard tomorrow night.
‘The Jackal’ is rated a 1/100 favourite by the bookies to defeat the 33-year-old in the Windsor Park bill-topper, with potential world title fights against the likes of Josh Warrington, Oscar Valdez and former foe Leo Santa Cruz being talked about down the line.
Undefeated Warrington, who stunned Lee Selby to take the IBF featherweight crown back in May, will be ringside tomorrow, working as an analyst for BT Sport.
And Frank Warren, who promotes both Warrington and Frampton, insists that fight – if it is going to happen at all – will take place before Christmas, possibly at the Manchester Arena.
However, underdog Jackson intends to spoil the party at Windsor Park.
“At the start, maybe I thought he was overlooking me a bit,” he said.
“But now I think he understands what’s at stake. If he loses to me, his career’s pretty much over.”
And the unbeaten Tanzania fighter, who boxed for Australia at the 2012 Olympics in London, says he is ready for whatever the partisan home crowd throws at him when he steps between the ropes.
“I’ve come from nothing - there’s a lot that I’ve had to deal with in my life to get to this position,” said Jackson, who has overcome drug problems and mental health issues earlier in his life to reach the top of the sport.
“I’m very proud of myself to be able to be here. My father is 67 years old, he’s never left Australia and for me to give my father a reason to fly halfway across the world, that fills me with pride.
“It’s going to be hostile. I can sit here and say ‘I can handle it, I can do this, I can do that’, but at the end of the day I’ve got to do it, don’t I? I’ve tried for this training camp to prepare for it mentally, for all those things that could happen in the fight and we’ve just to wait and see now if it works.
“I’m thankful for the opportunity and I’m going to grab it with both hands.”
Despite all the talk and speculation about what the future might hold, Frampton insists he hasn’t overlooked Jackson at any stage.
Trainer Jamie Moore said at yesterday’s press conference he believes the 31-year-old from Tigers Bay is now in the prime of his career, and Frampton is determined to prove him right.
He said: “I’m ready for this and I’ve seen a few things that Luke has said.
“He says now he sees I’m not overlooking him – well, I haven’t been this whole camp. That hasn’t just changed in the last two weeks.
“I’m fitter now than I was against Nonito Donaire [in April], and mentally I’m so happy with boxing. In the last year everything’s flipped for me. I was winning fights and beating big names but I wasn’t enjoying it.
“Now I’m enjoying it and, as Jamie says, I’m in my prime.”
