Carl Frampton says he's in a race with Katie Taylor to become Ireland's first three-weight world champion.

Frampton, Taylor and Steve Collins are the only three fighters from this island who have conquered the world at two separate weights.

Belfast man Frampton has secured the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles, plus the WBA (Super) featherweight title, in a glittering career.

Now he's targeting a historic hat-trick after confirming a bout with WBO junior-lightweight belt holder Jamel Herring will most likely happen once the regulations around the pandemic are relaxed.

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He is desperate to upset the odds but Frampton accepts time is running out - not least because Taylor continues to take the paid ranks by storm.

"When I turned professional my dream was to become a world champion," the 33-year-old told RTÉ Radio 1's Sunday Sport.

"If a genie had granted me a wish and said, 'you'll become a world champion and lose it on your first defence', I think I'd have taken it. To become a two-weight world champion and the things I've done in my career, I'm obviously very proud.

"But to become a three-weight world champion, and the first ever on the island of Ireland, is going to be huge.

"There's three two-weight world champions - myself, Katie Taylor and Steve Collins. To stand alone as a three-weight champion would be huge.

"I do believe Katie Taylor will become a three-weight world champion at some point in her career. To get in there in front of her would be brilliant."

Frampton said he he was fully prepared for a summer showdown with Herring but the coronavirus outbreak disrupted all plans.

He's staying focused and hungry though, convinced he will eventually upset the odds.

"It was all pretty much agreed to fight. We had a date of 13 June at Windsor Park tentatively pencilled in and then obviously the whole world was hit by the coronavirus pandemic and that's ruled that out, but the fight is pretty much done and I think it will happen at some point when it's safe to do so.

"I felt like I was in a good place mentally. I feel physically like I'm in my prime really. I know I'm not the youngest guy in the world anymore but I'm still doing things now that I couldn't do in my mid-20s.

"I'm the underdog, I know that. Jamel Herring is the champion, he's a big guy as well. There isn't really a lot of pressure on me. I genuinely believe I can win this fight."

Frampton also admitted that a big night under the lights at Windsor Park looks unlikely.

"I think that's probably ruled out now," he said.

"Weather conditions in Northern Ireland are not great. I think if it goes any later than the beginning of September it probably rules an outdoor stadium out.

"If we don't do Windsor Park then why would Jamel Herring want to come to the Odyssey as the champion to fight me in an indoor arena when he can just do that in New York? Madison Square Garden has been mentioned.

"That would be a dream for me. I've boxed in some big arenas around the world but not Madison Square Garden."