Tensions rose between Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg in Belfast at the final leg of a three-leg press tour to launch their world-title unification showdown next year.
A raucous Belfast crowd in their hundreds at the Europa Hotel created a fiery atmosphere at the last public press conference as Quigg and his trainer, Joe Gallagher, were treated to a hostile reception from Frampton’s home support, while Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn was also loudly heckled.
On a collision course for over five years, undefeated rivals Frampton and Quigg will finally meet in a super-bantamweight world-title eliminator on 27 February at the Manchester Arena.
Tensions had gradually risen between both sides during London and Manchester press events this week, but this marked an escalation in trash talk as their backroom teams verbally clashed during the Belfast press event while the rivals traded words during the traditional head-to-head photo shot.
“I said something about the big crowd support here and took the p**s that there were only 100 people at the Manchester event,” explained IBF champion Frampton afterwards.
“They think they’re winding me up but they’re not winding me up"
“He [Quigg] was saying, ‘You can’t bring them in the ring with you’.”
The Belfast ‘Jackal’ believes that Quigg’s team are already engaging in trash talk in an attempt to lure him into a brawl during the much-anticipated bout so he abandons his tactics.
“The only chance Quigg has is for me to come out and meet him in the middle of the ring at the start,” said Frampton. “I could still win the fight doing that but that’s giving him a chance, that’s what they want.
“They think they’re winding me up but they’re not winding me up, Eddie Hearn and Joe Gallagher are d***heads but they’re not winding me up.”
Hearn previously promoted Frampton before linking up with Quigg, and the Matchroom promoter was quizzed about his 2013 prediction when he stated that the Irish fighter would beat his English rival.
“Two years ago, Scott wasn’t anywhere near the fighter he is now,” said Hearn.
“I think last July showed a lot about both fighters – Scott’s demolition of Kiko Martinez was very impressive, Carl Frampton’s debut in America wasn’t and I think that’s changed everyone’s view on it,” continued the Matchroom promoter, referring to Frampton’s points victory over Alejandro Gonzalez Jr when the Belfast native had to get up from the canvas twice to win.
“Taking nothing away from Carl, it’s not a gimme, but I think this is a fight that Scott Quigg is going to win comfortably,” added Hearn.
In response, Frampton, loudly cheered by his home crowd, quickly interjected to suggest that Hearn only agreed to stage the big-money due to the revenue that pay-per-view money and a large attendance is expected to generate.
“You’re working for Carl, he’s not working for you… don’t be so smug, mate, you’re an a***hole”
“You’re just lying again, like you lie to all your fighters, pretending you actually give a fiddlers about them,” said Frampton.
“The mask is slipping and everyone is seeing the real Eddie Hearn. He loves the green, he loves the bit of money and that’s it, that’s all,” added Frampton.
During an entertaining and lively back and forth, Hearn countered that “Money is relevant, but you’d be getting nowhere near this payday without us and Sky”, while Frampton’s mentor, Barry McGuigan hit back by saying: “You’re working for Carl, he’s not working for you… don’t be so smug, mate, you’re an a***hole.”
Hearn this week revealed that Frampton will earn the bigger purse of the two fighters but Quigg said: “I’m happy with what I’ve got and the deal got done because of me. I’m not money motivated – I’m motivated by the will to win.”
Even though the fight is set for Manchester, Frampton is expected to have a huge travelling support in England.
Quigg agreed with Hearn and Gallagher’s remarks that that the Irishman will not be able to take his support into the ring with him, but Frampton claimed: "Quigg is plucking at straws. They don’t know what to say… This fight is bigger than anything I’ve been involved in but it’s 20 times bigger than any fight Scott Quigg’s ever been involved in," added the Tiger's Bay man.
Such is the expected demand for tickets, Frampton’s promotional team are encouraging Irish fans to visit the Manchester Arena website to purchase tickets in the Frampton-fans section as well as Ticketmaster from 9am on Friday.
Twenty-eight-year-old Frampton (21-0) has suggested that his performance against Gonzalez Jr – and the apparent vulnerability he showed after being floored twice – convinced Quigg to agree to take the fight.
While 27-year-old Bury native Quigg (31-0-2) partly agrees with that theory, he puts a different spin on it.
“They thought he was going to go crack America but then he soon came back with his tail between his legs,” said Quigg.
“He needs me and that’s why they came back to the table. It’s the biggest fight out there for both of us," added the WBA belt holder.
