ON Saturday night Carl Frampton defends his ‘interim’ WBO Featherweight title against Australian Luke Jackson at Belfast’s Windsor Park live on BT Sport from 7.45pm.

Frampton’s great friend Paddy Barnes challenges WBC flyweight champion Cristofer Rosales on the biggest show ever held in Belfast and reckons his clash will steal the show in front of 25,000 fans.

Here are a selection of quotes from today’s final press conference.

FRANK WARREN (Promoter)

“It is going to be a fantastic occasion. We have Ireland’s best in action.

“Carl is a tremendous professional, fantastic to work with and the reason we are here. He knows what is at stake and wants to put himself in line for a full world title fight.

“He is not fazed and just wants the best. He wanted to fight at Windsor Park and we have delivered.

“After this he will be in a major, major fight which fans will love, but Jackson is here to win and upsets happen. This is Carl’s dream and I don’t want it turning into a nightmare.

“Paddy is really stepping up to the plate after five professional fights and if gameness wins world titles he wins this weekend.

“I am looking for history being made and I believe Paddy can do it in his sixth fight.”

CARL FRAMPTON

“It has been a dream to box at Windsor Park and is about to become a reality. To have friends on the bill like Paddy Barnes, Conrad Cummings and Steven Ward makes it more special.

“I have seen a few things Luke has said, but from start to finish I have trained very hard and it’s about more than Luke. It’s Windsor Park.

“The last year everything has flipped. I’m in my prime and about to deliver big performances. In the past I was getting big wins, but I wasn’t a happy fighter.

“I know a fair bit about Luke and he is highly ranked for a reason. He is a good fighter, but I am at another level.

“It will also mean the world to me for Paddy to win a world title on this bill and I think his fight will steal the show.

“He is always the joker, but he is serious this time and if I had my last pound I would back him.”

JAMIE MOORE (Frampton’s trainer)

“Carl is a consummate professional. We wanted one of the top two or three guys in the world, but it wasn’t possible. Windsor Park is the dream he has always wanted though.

“I understand why Luke’s camp say Carl has overlooked him, but that is to give them confidence. Statistics have shown he is 10 per-cent fitter than the Donaire fight.

“I think Carl is in his prime. Boxing isn’t about fitness and technique but also mental. It is about getting everything right.

“Carl is still improving and that is scary. He does things you cannot teach.”

LUKE JACKSON

“I thought Carl was overlooking me but he knows what is at stake. If Carl loses to me his career is over. I have got to fight the perfect fight and I believe I can do it.

“It’s a real life Rocky story if I win. I have come from nothing. I have gone through a lot to get here and if I spoke about that I’d be here all day.

“My father has left Australia for the first time ever to be here and it makes me so proud. A 67-year-old man has travelled halfway around the world for me.

“I have tried to prepare mentally for all the things that can happen and we have to see if it works.”

https://www.boxingscene.com/carl-frampton-luke-jackson-go-face-face-final-presser–130945

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SHOWTIME BOXING INTERNATIONAL® will stream live exclusively to U.S. audiences on the SHOWTIME Boxing Facebook page and SHOWTIME Sports YouTube channel beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT with an encore presentation later that evening on SHOWTIME EXTREME (10 p.m. ET/PT).

The August 18 event will be the network’s 24th live presentation of boxing through the first eight months of 2018. It will be the sixth live streaming boxing event of the year on SHOWTIME Sports social media platforms and the third from the United Kingdom as the network continues to deliver boxing’s biggest events from around the globe.

Former two-division champion Frampton will defend his interim WBO Featherweight Title against undefeated Australian contender Luke Jackson on the pitch at Windsor Park, where an expected 30,000 fans will witness the first boxing event at the home of Northern Irish football.

Live coverage for the Frank Warren-promoted event will be provided by BT Sport with U.K. sportscasters John Rawling calling the action, Barry Jones providing analysis, and Ronald McIntosh conducting post-fight interviews for Fury-Pianeta. SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® host Brian Custer and Hall of Fame analyst Steve Farhood will deliver pre-and post-fight analysis from New York for the SHOWTIME Sports audience.

The 31-year-old Frampton (25-1, 14 KOs), who rolled back the years with an inspired performance to win the interim WBO belt against Nonito Donaire in April, will face the unbeaten Jackson as he looks to earn a second world title in one of boxing’s deepest divisions. With a victory, Frampton will target blockbuster showdowns with WBA World Champion Leo Santa Cruz, WBC World Champion Gary Russell Jr., and IBF World Champion Josh Warrington, all of whom have appeared on SHOWTIME platforms in 2018. The WBO’s interim champion is also in line to fight full titlist Oscar Valdez, who is recovering from surgery to repair a fractured jaw.

Jackson (16-0, 7 KOs) was the captain of the Australian boxing team at the 2012 London Olympics and has won 16 consecutive fights since turning pro in 2013. The 33-year-old is confident he can upset Frampton in front of his hometown fans and earn a title shot in the deep 126-pound division.

http://www.worldboxingnews.net/2018080725123/news/showtime-sports-confirm-live-coverage-of-frampton-v-jackson-fury-v-pianeta-from-belfast

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CARL FRAMPTON is preparing for this month’s Windsor Park fight against Luke Jackson feeling “reinvigorated” and that his last performance was better than all but one in his career so far.

Having outpointed Filipino Nonito Donaire at Belfast’s SSE Arena in April, earning the WBO interim Featherweight title, Frampton will be back in his native city taking on Australia’s Jackson on August 18.

It will be the third contest for Frampton – who has said it will “mean the world” to him to fight at the home of the Northern Ireland football team for the first time – since he started working with his trainer Jamie Moore.

Frampton appointed Moore and linked up with promoter Frank Warren last year after splitting with trainer Shane McGuigan and manager Barry McGuigan.

The 31-year-old (25-1, 14 KOs), whose sole professional defeat came in his final fight before those changes, a rematch against Mexico’s Leo Santa Cruz, told Press Association Sport: “I feel like I am reinvigorated, like I am back to my old self.

“A few years ago I was kind of falling out of love with boxing and a bit fed up with it, and counting down the days to retirement.

“But I’ve got it back. I’ve got it between my teeth now and I’m loving it. I wake up in the morning and I want to go to the gym, I look forward to it. I haven’t felt like that in four or five years. I still have a lot to give.

“And Jamie – of course he has (helped that happen).

“Jamie is technically and tactically very good. He studies the opponent and comes up with a gameplan that’s worked out every time so far. He is a fantastic coach.”

Frampton, who has won world titles in two weight divisions, added: “The Santa Cruz one fight (when he won the WBA featherweight title in 2016) was probably my best performance, but after that I think Donaire was probably the second best performance.

“It was disciplined. He was a puncher. I felt much stronger than him, but he could punch. I needed to be cautious from start to finish, and I think my discipline was key in that fight. If you want to rank my performances, I think that’s number two.”

Regarding the 33-year-old Jackson (16-0, 7 KOs), Frampton said: “He’s a good fighter. He’s undefeated, has a good amateur record, and is a solid, well-rounded professional.

“But he’s not been in against anyone close to my level and I intend to show him what it’s like at the very highest level of world boxing.

“I intend to put on a performance and beat this guy. I believe if I turn up 100 per cent then I get rid of him.”

The bout headlines a show that has Tyson Fury’s fight against Francesco Pianeta on the undercard.

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Carl Frampton accepts Luke Jackson poses a serious threat to his world title aspirations but has told the Australian Belfast will serve up an atmosphere more daunting than any other.

Australia’s Jackson (16-0-KO7) will enter the cauldron of Windsor Park on August 18 as the underdog – but Frampton doesn’t have to look far back into his own history to find a cautionary tale.

Frampton said: “The last time people were saying a fighter didn’t pose a threat to me was against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr and I ended up on my backside twice in the first round. It was the first time I’d been down in my career.

“Luke Jackson is an undefeated fighter and former Olympian with a very decent pedigree. He comes with a lot to gain if he beats me. He’s highly ranked with the WBO and I expect a tough fight.

“Jackson has had plenty of notice to get himself into the best shape of his life and he’s entitled to put on a great performance. It’s up to me to better his performance and that’s what I’m going to do – Windsor Park deserves it. I want to do a proper job.

“The thing is – like most other featherweights, Jackson won’t have experienced an atmosphere like Belfast can create. I’m used to boxing at the SSE Arena in Belfast and it’s intense. It’s got to be hard for an opponent to deal with.

“It’s hard enough in front of 9,000 at the SSE Arena so just think how tough it’s going to be to fight against a hometown boy at Windsor Park. It’s going to be so tough. It might make him fold or it might gee him up but one thing’s for sure – it won’t be easy for him.

“I’m professional enough to avoid getting carried away with the atmosphere. I’ve learned a lot. I’ve dealt with big atmospheres and high expectations before. I’ll rise to the occasion of stepping out in the stadium and realising a dream.”

Frampton is aiming to become a three-time world champion having already secured two-weight status with memorable victories over the likes of Leo Santa Cruz and Scott Quigg.

https://fightnetwork.com/news/6664284:carl-frampton-vs-luke-jackson-set-for-interim-wbo-featherweight-title-on-aug-18/

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