Carl Frampton made a winning return to the ring with a victory over Mexican Horacio Garcia and says he’s ready for whatever comes his way next.
The 30-year-old Belfast fighter was looking for a way back into world title contention and despite looking ring-rusty took a unanimous points decision against Garcia.
"I’m ready for whatever comes my way," said Frampton.
"If a world title fight came my way next... the boxing landscape is continually changing.
"I know a few boys are tied up with fights in the spring time. I think they are yet to be officially made, who knows what is going to happen in the meantime.
"I’ll be ready for a world title next if I have to be. If I have to sit on the sidelines and get another one in between and then bring a world champion to Windsor Park I will."
Frampton did enough to win the fight on all three of the judges' cards but he was critical of his own performance.
"I got hit a bit too much. I’ll watch it back; I expect more of myself, I like to please the fans as well.
"I think people enjoyed the fight, I did some good things and some not so good things and I got dragged into his fight.
"That’s what happens sometimes and the most important thing is I got my hand raised the end. The kid was tough."
Frampton dominated the early rounds but he appeared to slip in the seventh round and was given a standing count.
He blamed new boots for this incident but conceded a punch was landed on the way down.
"I slipped, the ring was a bit wet and me being silly, you think I’d have more experience, I got new boots, I’ve worn them twice.
"I probably should have broken them in, in fairness he landed one as I slipped on the way down."
The former WBA world featherweight title holder was defeated by Leo Santa Cruz in January and has since split from trainer Shane McGuigan to work with Jamie Moore.
"I’m sitting here with a busted up face but I enjoy being involved in a fight like these. Since I turned pro in 2009 I’m enjoying this game more than I ever did.
"I’m in a happy place. I have good people around me and they are all looking after me and coming behind me and I feel like I deserve it."
