FORMER heavyweight king Tyson Fury believes that Carl Frampton can become world champion again.
Fury returned to training at the St Paul’s ABC gym in west Belfast on Monday and says ‘the Jackal’, who lost his featherweight title to Leo Santa Cruz in January, can get back to his best with “a little bit of soul searching”.
Since the loss to Santa Cruz, Frampton has split with long-term handlers Cyclone Promotions but is now working with Jamie Moore and targeting a return to the ring in late November/early December and Fury is confident he has it in him to quickly regain any lost ground.
“It’s all in a man’s head,” said Fury, a former Irish heavyweight champion who boxed in Belfast three times on the way to dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015.
“After a defeat or a setback you have to do a little bit of soul-searching and find yourself again. It wasn’t like he was knocked out in 10 seconds (by Santa Crux), he lost on points on a split decision.
“I think he can get back to his best and win a world title again. He’s already beaten Santa Cruz once and there are plenty of other world champions out there.”
The fight Frampton craves is the third instalment of a trilogy with Mexican Santa Cruz and he wants the fight at Windsor Park next summer. He also says he wouldn’t “turn his nose up” at a rumble with Welsh world champion Lee Selby. Meanwhile, Fury threw another name into the mix – Leeds scrapper Josh Warrington.
“Lee Selby has the IBF belt and that would be a good fight between them wouldn’t it?” he said.
“There’s also a good fight there as well with Josh Warrington. Warrington is a good ticket seller and so is Frampton. There are a lot of big fights out there for him.”
Fury worked the pads and hit the bag over 10 rounds at St Paul’s on Monday. After that he took off on a treadmill run insisting that he hasn’t made up his mind whether he will make a return to the ring after almost two years on the sidelines.
Just turned 29, he has time on his side and says he intends to shed five stone and get back in shape. However, he stopped short of saying he is a targeting a comeback.
“It depends if I want to do it one day,” he said.
“If I do (want to), I’ll do it. If I don’t, then you’ve seen the best of me. But who knows?”
One Fury who remains active is his cousin Hughie who takes on Joseph Parker for the WBO heavyweight title (previously held by Tyson) at the MEN Arena in Manchester on September 23.
25-year-old New Zealander Parker beat Andy Ruiz to win the belt late last year and successfully defended it against Bulgarian Razvan Cojanu in May.
“It’s a very close fight, a 50-50 fight but Hughie definitely can win it,” said Tyson.
“Parker is no easy test, he’s a good lad. They’re both unbeaten, they’re both good lads so may the best man win. No hard feelings, it’s just a boxing match.”
