[hdvideo id=1059 ratingscontrol=on views=on title=on]
February 28, 2016 Carl Frampton vs Scott Quigg at Manchester Arena (formerly M.E.N Arena), Manchester, Lancashire, United Kingdom for the following titles
IBF World super bantamweight title
WBA Super World super bantamweight title
The hugely built-up super-bantamweight clash between Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg for the World Boxing Association and International Boxing Federation, started on a slow note but events heated up in the second half.
It was a split verdict with one judge scoring 115-113 for Quigg and two judges giving it to Frampton 116-112. It was Quigg’s first defeat in 34 professional fights, since 2007. Frampton is undefeated in 22 fights since turning pro in 2009.
The first round was understandably cagey from both sides with Frampton looking to execute his jab and Quigg biding his time. At the end of the second round it looked like Frampton has taken both rounds though Quigg showed some fight back. The Irishman was setting up some traps in the third, hoping that Quigg would launch in leaving himself open to a counter attack. Quigg landed a fairly powerful right in the fourth but failed to follow it up with much else. After the fifth, Frampton looked quite comfortable and Quigg was playing to the script with little innovation. By now it looks like Quigg needs a knockout to win this one.
The fight turns around in the last six rounds as Quigg goes for broke. Quigg, prodded by his coach Joe Ferguson turns on the heat and suddenly Frampton doesn’t look as comfortable as he usually does. The final round sees both fighters slugging it out. Quigg looks desperate to land something huge since he knows he as to make up ground lost in the initial rounds.
Frampton said: “I couldn’t believe it was a split – I don’t know what that lad was watching. As long as I got the hand at the end of the fight that is the main thing. I think he needs to have a good hard look at himself the judge who gave it Quigg’s way. I knew it was going to be a boring fight. We had to sell it but I knew I had the brain to do that and make it boring. We have a great rivalry. Of course we could do it again.”
