The world is not enough for Carl Frampton

‘The Hitman’ is first on the hitlist for Ireland's new champ.

Like many of his contemporaries, Carl Frampton is a fighter bred very much by circumstance. An upbringing in 1980s Belfast commanded a battling spirit from his generation, and while for many it led down a tumultuous path of civil unrest, Frampton opted for the road less travelled and that has made all the difference.

There seems almost a fated irony, then, that he was reared in the shadow of the infamous Duncairn Gardens wall that divides the Antrim Road’s loyalist and republican strongholds.

After all, Frampton has spent the best part of his life tearing down such sectarian boundaries. The Tiger’s Bay man’s marriage to childhood sweetheart Christine Dorrian, a native of Poleglass in the west of the city, is testament to that in and of itself.

But likewise his boxing career has served to unite feuding communities on a much larger scale.

Although drawing comparisons between the sprightly super-bantamweight and grizzled champion emeritus Manny Pacquiao would admittedly be premature on a strictly boxing level, the social standings of the pair in their respective homelands are not so dissimilar.

The latter, these days as renowned for his political endeavours as his pugilistic ones, has long since been a lightning rod for unity in the often fractious metropolises of the Philippines. Frampton has followed suit in that regard, playing the role of cross-community conciliator in a manner not seen on this island since the heady days of one Barry McGuigan.

If parallels between Frampton and Pacquiao may be something of a stretch, those between the two Ulstermen are a dime a dozen. Like McGuigan before him, Frampton’s exploits have, by dint of turbulent social factors outside of his control, assumed significance far beyond that of the average prize-fighter.

The almost innate kinship they share in this respect makes it fitting that the Clones Cyclone has nowadays assumed the role of Frampton’s promotional manager. As far as offering guidance to his protégé about the chutes and ladders of marrying one’s responsibilities in the ring with those hoisted upon him outside it, it’s hard to think of a person more suitable for the job than the Monaghan man.

With that being said, ‘The Jackal’ very much ploughs his own furrow when it comes to ensuring that it’s his boxing which truly steals the headlines. And while memories of Barry’s barmy night in 1985 are entirely second-hand for the 28-year-old, he has already embarked on creating some rather more tangible ones of his own.

An unerring dismantling of IBF kingpin Kiko Martinez in September saw him crowned the 20th titlist to hail from the Emerald Isle. While his idols McGuigan, McAuley and McCullough found themselves flung afar in search of the ultimate prize, Frampton had the temerity to conquer the world from his doorstep – 6,000 packed a purpose-built stadium at the historic Titanic Quarter to witness his coronation.

And although the maiden defence of his belt will take place in the neighbouring Odyssey Arena, the scope of his ambition extends far beyond Queens Quay. His recent link-up with ITV is evidence enough of that.

As well as becoming the first championship fight in eight years to be broadcast free-to-air in both Ireland and Britain, the contest will also be beamed live to a further 54 countries. The event amounts to a potential watershed for the sport in these parts, a reality which is not lost on its chief protagonist.

“When I was a young lad, all of the big fights were on ITV, so to be defending my world title on the channel is a dream come true” gushed Frampton of his new platform. “Boxing needs mainstream exposure and I am thrilled to be part of its return to terrestrial television.”

His manager was equally enamoured by the development. “It’s gigantic for us and for boxing. Carl is already an established name in Ireland, but this deal will make him a superstar. He is a better fighter than I was with a greater range. He will appeal to the general sports fan, not just the aficionado, because you can’t take your eyes off him.”

As a rule, such grandiose declarations by a promoter might be pegged as standard hyperbolic jargon.  In this case, however, they carry a little more clout.

Being an ITV alumnus in his own right, Barry McGuigan knows a thing or two about crossover appeal.  Indeed, the historic match-up between himself and Eusebio Pedroza at London’s Loftus Road remains the most watched of all time, garnering in excess of 18 million viewers.

With options abounding at every turn in what is a stacked super-bantamweight division, Frampton will be hoping to scale similar heights. Mega unification clashes against Messrs Quigg, Rigondeaux and Santa Cruz loom large on both sides of the Atlantic. Prior to pursuing those ends, however, he first has business to attend to at home.

While one may be inclined to dismiss this weekend’s assignment as little more than a prelude to a grander narrative, his opponent emits the air of somebody who hasn’t read that particular script.

A hat-trick of impressive stoppage wins versus Rolly Lunas, Jose Torres and Yasutaka Ishimoto saw the IBF install Chris Avalos as their number one contender at the turn of the year.

Boasting a KO ratio north of 70%, the 25-year-old has emerged as a sterling force at 122 pounds. Judging by the pre-fight soundbites emanating from his camp, he has the self-confidence to boot.

“I’m not impressed at all, to be honest.” quipped Avalos of the champion. “I’ve fought fighters like him and I’ve knocked them out. He thinks being out there in his hometown that the fans are going to save him, but it’s really just me and him in the ring so I don’t see how that’s going to work on his side. I’ll win, and it’s not going to be by decision either.”

Frampton, for his part, is not unduly daunted by the Californian’s bravado. "He's a good puncher with a good knockout percentage but he hasn't fought anyone as good as me," said the Ulsterman. "That is going to be the difference on the night."

True enough, while Avalos might sport the famous ‘Hitman’ moniker, Tommy Hearns and Ricky Hatton he ain’t. Two defeats on the ledger to fringe contenders Christopher Martin and Jhonatan Romero speak for his fallibility. Given the greener pastures which lie ahead, the pressure will be firmly on Frampton to inaugurate his reign by etching a third notch in that loss column. But having borne the expectations of an entire city for all these years, pressure by now is merely par for the course.

Michael Parkinson once said that the relevance of sport in everyday life is its irrelevance to everyday life, meaning that sport’s value lies in the escapism it offers people from the true travails of reality.

The political posturing and religious brinkmanship so often associated with Belfast will be left very much at the turnstiles come Saturday night, and as Carl Frampton begins the latest chapter in his increasingly storied career, the boy from the Bay will be fighting not only for a belt, but for the communities uniquely united in his name.