Editorials

Top 3 Irish Fighters in Boxing

Round By Round Boxing wishes you a Happy St. Patrick’s Day by bringing you a list of our top-three Irish fighters in the sport of boxing today.

Carl Frampton Super Bantamweight

Frampton Martinez - Action Images Photo by Action Images

Even though Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (20-0-0, 14 KOs) was born in a Unionist area of Belfast, Northern Ireland, technically making him a citizen of Great Britain, he considers himself Irish through-and-through.

In an interview with BBC Sports, Frampton was open in saying just that.

[otw_shortcode_quote border=”bordered” border_style=”bordered”]“I get asked all the time, ‘would you have liked to box for Great Britain?’ And the answer is ‘no’. I was looked after by Irish boxing from pretty much eleven years old and was very proud to box for Ireland.”[/otw_shortcode_quote]

Frampton was referring to himself representing Ireland at the 2007 European Union Amateur Boxing Championships where he won the silver medal.

He turned pro in 2009, and has been a wrecking ball in the 122-pound division ever since.

Frampton has shown that not only can he box with great technical skill, while frustrating opponents with his defensive movement, he’s not afraid to load-up and bang with anybody.

He’s a destroyer to the body, which allows him to damage his foe to the head, making him a legitimate knockout puncher (five of his last six wins have come by knockout).

His first title shot came in September 2014, when he took on tough IBF champion Kiko Martinez in a rematch of their fight a year earlier in which Frampton beat Martinez by technical knockout in the ninth round.

Frampton fought the fight of his life, dominating Martinez on the way to a clear unanimous-decision victory in front of 16,000 fans at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast, Northern Ireland.

He defended his title for the first time on February 28, 2015, once again in front of a packed house, proving himself as a huge draw in the UK.

Frampton took on American, Chris Avalos, who came into the fight with the reputation of a heavy puncher, but it was Frampton who showcased his own power, and stopped Avalos in just the fifth round.

Pound for pound, Carl Frampton is the best Irish fighter in the world today, and is drawing huge crowds with his entertaining fight style.

Moving forward he’ll be looking to set up big fights with guys like Scott Quigg, Nonito Donaire and most interestingly, with Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Guillermo Rigondeaux vs. Hisashi Amagas Photo by Ken Ishii - Getty Images3 Photo By Ken Ishii

Rigondeaux is not only the best fighter in the Super Bantamweight division, but is widely considered as one of the most talented and technically sound boxers in the sport today.

If there’s anyone at 122 pounds who could stand a chance to give Rigondeaux a tough fight, it’s Carl Frampton.

 

Do you think agree with RBR Boxing’s list of the top-three Irish fighters in boxing today? Please feel free to discuss in our comments section below.

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