The super-bantamweight unification match takes place in Manchester on Saturday and is one of the biggest British bouts in recent memory
Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg meet in one of the biggest British bouts in recent memory.
And although it is a tough fight to call, it should be Frampton having his hand raised come the close of play in Manchester.
This is a contest that has been brewing for years.
The pair were calling each other out back in 2012 and ever since a bookmaker offered odds on it, Frampton – who boasts a 21-0 record – has been the favourite.
‘The Jackal’ is the slicker operator with a vastly superior amateur pedigree. He may be less experienced in the pro ranks, but that counts for little in reality.
Quigg – whose record is 31-0-2 – is comfortably the bigger man and arguably the stronger. He will look to use this to his advantage but whether he can or not is yet to be seen.
Frampton’s last opponent, Alejandro Gonzalez Jr, was notably taller than him and despite a couple of early problems, the Northern Irishman out-boxed the Mexican easily.
Quigg might have more power, but that is marginal with the two men’s knockout ratios almost identical and the Englishman’s physical ‘advantages’ will probably make little difference on the night.
But while Frampton has always been the favourite, Quigg’s last performance brought the odds closer together.
The Lancastrian knocked out Kiko Martinez in two rounds in what was a much more impressive performance than Frampton managed in two bouts with the Spaniard.
The Jackal won the first in nine and the second by unanimous decision.
This common opponent could be a useful barometer, but despite Quigg appearing to have done better, Martinez rates Frampton much more highly.
‘La Sensacion’ says Frampton is the better boxer and has tipped him to prosper on Saturday night.
Martinez echoes the perceived wisdom ahead of this one which says, if Frampton sticks to his boxing skills, he should come away victorious.
He is liable to be caught at times and could endure some sticky patches. As long as he is disciplined, though, he should win.
Both men are reasonably heavy-handed, but not terrifying punchers and neither have appeared to be at all chinny in their careers to date.
We could see some classic action, especially as the fight reaches its conclusion, but this one is likely to go to the judges’ scorecards.
With everything considered it should be the Jackal holding all the gold and posing for the cameras when all is said and done.
7/4 – Carl Frampton to win by decision or technical decision
