CARL Frampton insists he won’t be complacent in his July 29 homecoming at the SSE Arena - despite coming up against a little-known opponent who has only twice fought outside his native Mexico.
After months of speculation about a potential third fight with Leo Santa Cruz, or a possible showdown against IBF belt holder Lee Selby, 23-year-old Andres Gutierrez (35-1-1) was yesterday confirmed as Frampton’s next opponent.
Considering ‘The Jackal’ has mixed in elite company for the last 18 months, beating Scott Quigg in a huge pay-per-view show in Manchester before those two rip-roaring meetings with Santa Cruz, the choice of opponent left some fight fans scratching their heads.
The match-up with Gutierrez brings back memories of Frampton’s last venture into the unknown against another unheralded Mexican, the late Alejandro Gonzalez jr, in July 2015.
That afternoon in El Paso, Frampton was dropped twice in the first round before recovering to win a wide points decision.
The reigning Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year admits he took Gonzalez jr lightly in Texas, but is adamant he won’t fall into the same trap against Gutierrez.
“I learnt a lot from that,” said the 30-year-old.
“I got very complacent before the Gonzalez fight. I saw him walking about the hotel, very skinny, tall, put the head down walking past me, seemed like a nervous kid.
I just thought ‘I’m going to blow this guy away’.
“There was loads of issues in that fight, but the main one was I got complacent. I’ve learnt form that.
“I’m not going to complacent with this guy, that’s for sure. Especially at home, I can’t afford to be.”