Are Frampton And Fury’s Next Fights Career-Defining?

Are Frampton And Fury’s Next Fights Career-Defining?

By Dan McConnell

On Saturday night in Belfast Carl Frampton realised his dream of fighting at Windsor Park in-front of 20,000 of his home-town fans. Tyson Fury’s comeback trail also featured as the co-main event in an exceptional night of boxing.

Frampton (26-1) defeated his opponent Luke Jackson by TKO in the 9th round and Fury (27-0) also defeated his opponent Francesco Pianeta via unanimous decision to continue his winning ways. Both men couldn’t afford a banana skin on Saturday and successfully got their hands raised. The MTK Global fighters under the guidance of promoter Frank Warren have set up huge title fight match-ups later in the year, the question is are these next fights for each fighter make or break for their careers?

It was anticipated if Frampton overcame Jackson, a match up would be set with current IBF Featherweight Champion Josh Warrington who was in attendance and the bout agreement looks ready to be signed. The former two division world champions clash with Leeds-born Warrington is a career defining fight. Frampton needs to capture the IBF Featherweight title to take the next step in his career, there is no room for error. At the age of 31 the window of opportunity is slowly closing and there is a lot riding on his legacy within the sport with this one fight.

Now is the time to put the doubters to bed and Frampton has surely secured the respect of the some for his clinical victory over former four division world champion Nonito Donaire and now impressively destroying Luke Jackson. The Jackal holds the WBO interim Featherweight title having his eyes on huge title fights with champion Oscar Valdez, possible opponents in WBC Featherweight champion Gary Russell Jr. and a trilogy fight for the WBA Featherweight title against Leo Santa Cruz. However, overcoming Warrington is the first crucial step for any future fights.

Tyson Fury is a man who is also hot on his heels to return to his former glory just like Frampton. With The Gyspy King’s second successful comeback victory to stay undefeated, a mouth-watering Heavyweight showdown against WBO Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder is set to conclude 2018.

The Bronze Bomber was ring side for the Windsor Park fight night and showed his face for the weigh-ins at Belfast’s Europa Hotel on Friday. The matchup was officially announced as both men faced off in-ring where the war of words continued with promoter Frank Warren confirming “It’s on, the fight is on!”

Wilder was in preliminary talks to face Anthony Joshua to unify the Heavyweight division but both parties couldn’t reach agreement. That now obviously benefits Fury who gets the chance to put his name back in the mix.

It is do or die for the former Heavyweight champion. If Fury can defeat the undefeated American it would set up a huge all-British affair with IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO Champion Joshua to unify the division. Over coming the first hurdle in WBC Champion Wilder will be no easy task but it is something especially this early in his comeback.

There is no doubt Frampton and Fury’s next fights are must win, both fighters are in the later stage of their careers and this opportunity to ride the crest of the wave may never come again. Boxing is all about taking your opportunity at the right time. Can they both pull it off? By the end of 2018 we should get our answer.