MATCHROOM’S THE REAL WINNERS AS ALL ROADS LEAD TO A FRAMPTON V QUIGG 2
As super unification fights go, it was a bit of a dire affair. Don’t get me wrong, the fight that I called the “battle of Britain” was intriguing from start to finish and inevitably tense and nerve-wracking throughout.
But it looked as though the enormity of the occasion got to both men, as the fight itself didn’t live up to the massive build up it was given. In the end, it saw Frampton win a deserved but slightly controversial 116-112. 116-112. 113-115 split decision victory.
Unfortunately, the battle to unify Quigg’s WBA and Frampton’s IBF Super Bantamweight belts, did not resemble the type of fight that should have taken place for these lucrative titles.
Only until late into the second half of the fight, when Quigg decided to push the pace did sparks begin to fly, slightly.
By this time, due to being the more active in the early rounds, Frampton had already built up a lead with his jab and superior footwork. It seemed Quigg was slightly tentative and it looked as though it took him a while to adjust to Frampton’s boxing.
Quite possibly, Frampton’s movement took Quigg out of his game. I believe due to the animosity leading up to the fight and both predicting a knockout, Quigg expected Frampton to come out and trade. Instead he boxed and moved and fought intelligently.
Naive Quigg. Intelligent Frampton?
This, in my opinion was very naive from Quigg’s camp, as it showed a lack of boxing intelligence. It looked as though they only had one game plan which was to trade and rely on Quigg’s power.
With that, I have to give credit to Frampton’s camp and Frampton’s own concentration in sticking to the game plan.
You hear many fighters say that line. But maintaining your concentration throughout the fight, being able to stick to the game plan, while you are wound up, consumed by pressure, the crowd and the occasion is extremely tough to do.
Frampton deserves credit because the fight could have gone differently as it got to the 8th round. Quigg started to came back into it, he seemed to close the distance and was catching Frampton. There is no doubt Quigg took over in the later rounds and it looked as though the pace was getting to Frampton.
The 9th, 10th and 11th rounds were easily Quigg’s best.
He looked strong, was unloading with some energy sapping body shots that seemed to visibly trouble Frampton, although he was firing back. If Quigg was going to win, this is where it would happen.
Frampton had no other option but to bite down on his gum shield and trade with Quigg. But to his credit, Frampton showed a toughness to his game, to add to the slick boxing.
I feel that gave him a second wind, as going into the 12th, Quigg had a head of steam. But Frampton used all his boxing ability, know how and slick boxing to nullify Quigg and close out the fight in impressive fashion.
Controversial and outrageous.
I said the decision was slightly controversial as I am not sure what fight judge Levi Martinez was watching to score it 115-113 to Quigg. Worst yet, Scotsman Jim Watt, the former lightweight title holder and boxing commentator for probably about 20 years now. Bizarrely stated he had Quigg one point up going into the last round. Outrageous.
I don’t mean to get on Watt’s back as he has given good service for many years. But everything runs its course. I have not been impressed with him for some time now and it was glaringly obvious, when he was alongside Paul Malignaggi in the Joshua v Whyte fight, just how low his standards have dropped.
Having Quigg a point up going into the 12th was the last straw. Especially as he is supposed to be the experienced head there. His commentating partner was constantly disagreeing with him. Sky needs a replacement and fast.
Secondly, how this fight was pay per view is equally as outrageous. Yes its a unification title fight, yes its a British grudge match, but though both fighters had world titles, they have not nearly raked up enough big fight wins to warrant such a PPV fight. Outrageous.
Worst yet, the undercard resembled something that would be on a York Hall midweek card, let alone asking Sky’s already paying customers to fork out more money for such an event. Outrageous.
This is why Matchroom are the real winners, as they made money purely on the strength of it being a title unification all British fight.
Now, due to the fight not really being a clear, exciting or real convincing win. No doubt a rematch will be made in the future for Matchroom to make further, no doubt, PPV money. Outrageous. The loyal customers deserve way more.
Nevertheless. The night belonged to Carl Frampton.
Though it wasn’t by no means a classic fight, I was impressed with his ability to box when it was necessary and brawl when it was needed.
We’ve often heard many credible boxing heads say, “brains beats brawn” and “speed kills”. So this win is a testament to his boxing skill and intelligence…..That’s why Carl Frampton is the deserved, unified WBA & IBF Super Bantamwight world champion.
