Thirty years on from his own first world-title defence, Barry McGuigan is calling on Carl Frampton to follow his lead and deliver a knockout in his first fight as a world champion. The Belfast ‘Jackal’ defends his IBF super-bantamweight world crown on Saturday night, returning to the Odyssey Arena five months after defeating Kiko Martinez at a purpose-built stadium on the Titanic slipways. While there is a more limited capacity attendance at the ‘Jackal’s Den’, a heated atmosphere is expected after a tension-filled pre-fight press conference yesterday, while additional pressure is on Framton’s shoulders as the fight marks the return of world-championship boxing to terrestrial television on ITV/UTV Ireland.
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Carl Frampton defends his IBF super-bantamweight world crown
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The Belfast 'Jackal' takes on Chris Avalos on Saturday
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It is thirty years since Barry McGuigan's first world-title defence
McGuigan, who turns 54 on Saturday, is hoping for the ideal birthday present from his undefeated protégé, but emphasised that a shot at superstardom is on the line for Frampton as he takes on the 25-year-old @placeholder.