Two big fight shows on the same day? It must be a Saturday after football season. Today’s first fight is taking place across the pond with Carl Frampton (21-0, 14 KOs) putting up his IBF World Super Bantamweight title on the line against Scott Quigg (31-0-2, 23 KOs) who has his and WBA Super World Super Bantamweight title at stake.
Scroll on down for the live blog. Keep reading for some preview information.
Here’s Oscar Stephen-Willis’ fight preview for GMS.
The fight has garnered some serious attention in recent weeks, mostly due to the inflammatory comments made between the two fighters and their camps. Both have accused the other of mind games, and with each owning exceptionally passionate fan bases, it’s sure to be a loud night in Manchester come fight time.
The latest skirmish between the two has come in the form of a disagreement over who gets to get dressed, and where. With the fight taking place in Manchester, Quigg’s camp have made the point that their man is the hometown fighter, and as such should be given the arena’s ‘star’ dressing room.
Frampton and his team, however, have demanded the dressing room for themselves with them considering Frampton as the man bringing in the viewers.
At a press-conference today, the two (despite the request of several media members) descended into something of a slanging match.
“Scott wants the dressing room that the star of the show usually gets,” said Frampton. “It’s a matter of principle. I’m the A side of the fight and I’m entitled to that dressing room. The best solution is that we lock that dressing room and each use different ones.”
Quigg, clearly unimpressed by the suggestion, shot back.
“What makes you think you’re coming to my arena and choosing the dressing room?” Quigg said. “That’s the dressing room I’m having and that’s that.”
British promoter Eddie Hearn, who also represents the huge prospect Anthony Joshua, was exasperated with the back and forth.
“I’m sure it will drag on, be childish and pathetic and everyone will lose their rag. But we will find a resolution,” said Hearn. “We had to bend over backwards to make the fight happen. Carl had to be on the left-hand side of the poster, had to enter the ring second, had to have American officials. We let him have all the little things that he cared about.
“But Scott is the home fighter in Manchester and he gets the home dressing room.”
Part of the intrigue in the fight, despite the talk, is of course the twos ability. Both are undefeated in the sport of boxing, with Quigg having 31 wins (23 of which came via knock-out) and Frampton having 21 wins (14 KOs).
Currently, the bookmakers have their odds showing Frampton to be the favourite out of the two, despite being dropped twice in his last fight against Alejandro González, Jr. in July of last year.
Carl Frampton vs. Scott Quigg takes place on Saturday 27, at the Manchester Arena. The first fight of the night is set to begin at 6pm, with the main event estimated to start at around 10.45pm GMT, (5:45 ET/2:45 PT).
The fight is on Showtime Extreme at 5:30 p.m. EST. Watch it with me.
