One of the most eagerly awaited fights of the year is nearly upon us. This Saturday at the Manchester Arena, the two world super-bantamweight’s champions collide in a mixing pot of Anglo-Northern Irish fervour.
Belfast’s favourite son, IBF champ Carl Frampton and Bury’s very own WBA champ Scott Quigg, recently met in the cut-throat atmosphere of another brilliant episode of The Gloves Are Off, aired on Sky Sports. Johnny Nelson once again was the compare, grilling both fighters whilst also allowing them to have their pound of flesh in front of the cameras.
Scott Quigg lit the fuse first by stating that Frampton had been KO’d in sparring, a claim that Frampton denied, stating that he went down in sparring but only touched the floor with his glove but got straight back up.
At times Frampton looked as though Quigg had got under his skin, read into it what you will, as I remember George Groves doing this to Carl Froch, ahead of their re-match and Froch was victorious.
There’s one thing that you cannot deny about Quigg, and that his stare is almost unwavering and looks to be a man that fully believes he will win come fight night, a fighter in prime condition.
WATCH: Frampton and Quigg Trade Insults Ahead of World Title Clash video (click play button on pic above)
Frampton, on the other hand, is a much more laid back character and doesn’t seem to be bothered by Quigg’s mind games, a sign of a confident and seasoned professional.
Today’s social media reports have also laid claim to the two trainers, Shane McGuigan and Joe Gallagher getting in on the act. Ring magazine’s Trainer of the Year, Gallagher launched a tirade of abuse at McGuigan and his dad, Barry.
McGuigan told Sky Sports: “I respect Scott as a fighter and so does dad. Whether we respect Joe Gallagher and Eddie Hearn is questionable.
“It’s probably likewise for them but when you’ve got a guy like dad, who’s been in the game and established himself and brought fans into boxing, to have them continuously try and down-play him is insulting.
Shane McGuigan on the other hand, has supposedly said that Gallagher and Quigg had not gelled that well and that Quigg had learnt more from sparring other world champions rather than from the coaching of Gallagher.
A fight that didn’t need any build up is already promising to one of the most explosive contests of the year with not only the fighters vying for world recognition but also the trainers verbally sparring too.
What are your predictions for the fight?
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