The new IBF super bantamweight champion could be fighting one of these lads very soon...
We're certain that Carl Frampton's
cuts, bruises and bumps will take a while to fully heal after his comprehensive victory over Kiko Martinez, however, that hasn't stopped JOE from speculating about who his next opponent might be.
Here's who we think the
newly crowned world champion might be facing in the ring next...
Chris Avalos
The American fighter might be next on the billing for 'The Jackal' but only because he is the mandatory challenger for the Belfast boxer's first title defence. We all know that there are ways around this though.
The 24-year old Californian has an impressive record, winning 24 of his fights (18 by KO) however he has also lost to Jhonatan Romero (who Kiko Martinez beat to take the title) and Christopher Martin.
Frampton's former promoter Eddie Hearn has recently teamed up with Matchroom Boxing and Top Rank to help organise Chris 'The Hitman' Avalos' next bout and this one might happen.
Barry
McGuigan revealed to us that they do have a mandatory title defence, which has to take place in the next 90 days, but it's been rumoured that the American has a hand injury.
This potential fight has only arisen because Kiko Martinez was given dispensation to earn a decent payday in Belfast on condition that Avalos is given his mandatory shot at the title within 90 days of the negotiating terms.
Apparently the IBF supervisor Lindsey Tucker, speaking after the Frampton-Martinez fight, revealed that his and Frampton's teams have 30 days to negotiate a deal, or the fight will go to purse bids.
McGuigan has stated that Frampton's hand may be broken thus preventing any title defence from going ahead. If this is the case then Avalos may find himself taking up the option to challenge Guillermo "El Chacal" Rigondeaux for his belts.
JOE would be surprised to see Frampton defend his title against the largely unknown but dangerous American. The only upside to this fight coming first is that an American audience will be introduced to 'The Jackal' and this could only help boost his profile Stateside.
The IBF may insist but any potential fight between the two could be further down the line.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ues5Ufkz1-k
Clip via - shosports
Scott Quigg
The fight most likely to happen because as soon as that belt was around Carl Frampton's waist he wasted no time in in calling out Quigg. The Tiger Bay fighter even went as far as saying that he is the only man that he wants to fight.
Rumours, talk and hearsay about this meeting have been bandied about for years but Frampton's ever growing stature, draw and position in the division means that it may finally be happening.
The two fighters have been embroiled in a war of words for some months now and Frampton says he will fight Quigg “anywhere.”
His exact words were, “I’ll fight him in Manchester, I’ll fight him anywhere. What Eddie Hearn needs to remember is I’m the one with the legitimate belt.” Quigg currently holds the WBA title
The presence of Eddie Hearn, Quigg's promoter and Frampton's former one, may mean that their are some some 'issues' to be sorted out before this fight happens but we all know that money talks in the end.
The choice of venue will be an interesting one especially since McGuigan said, "Scott Quigg will draw 800 people in Bury. We had to build an arena to fit in all Carl".
JOE thinks that if the fight does go ahead then it would have to be in England.
The unbeaten Quigg is set to make his fourth defence of the WBA belt against Belgian Stephane Jamoye this week and we're certain that Frampton and his camp will be interested spectators.
McGuigan famously beat Pedroza at Loftus Road and we have every confidence that his protege can defend his title on English turf.
Take a look at the two of them chatting side-by-side.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iqShIjWY7I
Clip via - iFL TV
Leo Santa Cruz
Apart from the prestige and glory that Frampton acquired in the ring over the weekend, he also has a wealth of lucrative fights now available to him, and a mouth-watering title unification fight against Leo Santa Cruz is definitely an option.
The Mexican is the current WBC World Champion and has even said that he is willing to come to Belfast to for the money-spinning fight.
Our worry would be if there is a venue big enough?
Santa Cruz has the small issue of a title defence against Manuel Roman in Las Vegas coming soon but we see him having very few problems with that one.
Speaking with boxingnews24 he said the following, “Carl’s been saying he wants to fight me and I’ve seen him in a couple of fights. He’s a great fighter, undefeated, he comes forward like me and throws parallel punches and pressures a lot. So I think it would make a really great fight for the fans".
“With both our styles it could be a ‘Fight of the Year’ because we both throw a lot of punches and are aggressive. It would be a very exciting fight wherever it happens,” he said.
We hope that this fight will happen but we imagine it going ahead further down the line.
Here's a look at what he can offer in the ring.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wRBewGiY63U
Clip via - TheArtOfSweetScience
Guillermo Rigondeaux
One man whose name wasn't mentioned as frequently in the post-fight discussion of potential next opponents was the supremely gifted WBO and WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux.
The Cuban is wildly regarded as the best fighter in the 122lb division but it seems that he might be too good for his own good according to McGuigan.
"Don't get me wrong, he's fabulous," said McGuigan. "But he's awkward, negative, not nice to fight, impossible to look good against, brings no support, no money, no television and makes no financial sense."
If this fight goes ahead then we think it's definitely one of those matches to end your career on rather than use as a launching pad, which Frampton is looking to do.
The two-time Olympic gold medallist is 34 so any potential fight against Frampton may only occur when he gets even older and his powers begin to wane.
Here he is in action.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yeaVS6yR7XA
Clip via -
PaneldeBoxeocom
Abner Mares or Jhonny Gonzalez
Former bantamweight, super bantamweight, and featherweight titleholder Abner Mares has revealed that he would consider dropping down a weight to fight Frampton.
Mares recovered from losing his WBC Featherweight crown to Jhonny González with a comprehensive win against Jonathan Oquendo and any potential fight would be an intriguing one.
The featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez (yes that's how he spells it) is probably a more likely opponent of the two but his overall record is quite patchy with 56 wins (47 by KO) but also eight defeats.
The Mexican is a ferocious puncher though, as seen by his 1st round T.K.O on the previously unbeaten Mares.
Take a look at this knockout.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fHp_CIBpx50
Clip via - ismagarcia9397
Kiko Martinez
It's obvious that Frampton and Martinez have a
mutual respect as seen by the new champion's comments about the former champ but we really don't see another rematch on the cards.
That being said boxing does love its trilogies. Pacquiao vs Morales, Ali v Norton and Barrera v Morales all spring to mind.
It probably won't happen though because those matches were a little more balanced than the outcomes of the Framton v Martinez fights.
