CARL FRAMPTON claimed a controversial split decision against Scott Quigg to
add the WBA title to his IBF world super-bantamweight crown.
Two judges handed Frampton the fight 116-112, with the third scoring it
115-113 in Quigg’s favour.
And the Jackal was quick to pay tribute to his travelling army of fans after
winning the unification showdown.
He said: “I know what means more than the belts — the travelling support. This
isn’t Manchester is it? It feels like Belfast.
“I couldn’t believe the split — I don’t know what that lad was watching. I
think he needs to have a look at himself who gave it Quigg’s way.
“I knew it was going to be a boring fight. I knew I had the brain to make it a
boring fight.”
But he opened the door to a rematch by adding: “We have a great rivalry. Of
course we could do it again.”
Frampton, 29, had promised to dish out such a one-sided beating that there
would be no need for a rematch. But a cagey opening round saw the fighters
feel each other out behind the jab with only sporadic attacks.
Quigg broke up Frampton’s jab with a right hand in the second — but it was the
Jackal who finished the session with a three-punch combo after a tangle. The
tempo increased slightly in the next round, with Frampton picking and
landing his punches only to be caught by a left hook.
Quigg missed badly with a big left at the start of the fourth and was pushed
back as Frampton looked to outbox him.
Frampton’s pawing jab continued to find its mark but Quigg got through with a
decent right to remind his opponent of his power. The two champions
continued to go back and forth in the fifth round — and Quigg again
connected well with a stinging right.
As cool as you like, Frampton claimed the centre of the ring in the sixth
round as Quigg stayed behind a tight guard.
For the first time in the fight, Quigg marched forward in the seventh round
looking to force an opening.
But it was Frampton who slipped out of the corner and unleashed a combination
before displaying some fancy footwork.
Quigg landed a stiff right to open the eighth and enjoyed more success by
sinking in some good body shots.
Yet Frampton simply knuckled down and continued to rely on his superior hand
speed. Quigg finally went on the attack in the ninth and forced his man
against the ropes.
The roof nearly lifted off the arena in the tenth round as the combatants
finally let fly.
The 11th saw the champs go at it at close quarters in the middle of the ring.
Quigg looked to go to the body when possible and launched himself forward.
The final round began with Quigg on the attack. But it was the Jackal who
continued to feint and move — and he even found time to showboat once again
before the final bell.
Quigg said: “My jaw went in the fourth. I felt comfortable in there but the
judges gave it to him.”