Carl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs) retained his world title tonight recording a KO victory against the confident Californian Chris Avalos in Belfast at the Odyssey Arena; Carl Frampton put on a great performance and showed why he is still the IBF super-bantamweight world champion.
The 28-year-old put in a blistering display before winning by technical knockout with less than half the fight gone in Belfast.
Carl Frampton went on the attack from the start, taking the fight to Avalos and getting the better the early exchanges. Frampton was relentless and put on a punch perfect display; he simply took the American to school.
Frampton spent the first round finding his range and as the confident Chris Avalos (25-3, 19 KOs), he backed up his talking from press conference as he showed he was game taking the centre of the ring and trying to lead with the jab and wild body shots.
Carl Frampton kept composed throughout the fight and he looked like he was on another level.
Chris Avalos had problems with hand speed, he was unable to avoid Frampton’s shots, Avalos was complaining about a shoulder injury in the second round. The ref had waved to fight away and Carl took no mercy on his opposite number who had no excuse to turn his back, as they say, defend yourself at all times!
In round three Avalos tried to go toe2toe with Frampton, but he simply didn’t have an answer to Frampton’s shots and there was only so long you can go while continuing in that fashion.
Frampton caught Avalos with a strong left jab on the American’s chin which seemed to affect the fighter which brought the rapturous Belfast fans to their feet.
Although Frampton had the shorter reach, he was able beat Avalos to punch every time. The Irishman simply out-punched his opponent and the American was out on his feet by the fifth round, he was calling Frampton on for more and you know a fighter is hurt when he does that.
Frampton kept up the pressure with the champion unloading a flurry of punches and he was was simply battering his man around the ring and onto the ropes.
Avalos was almost knocked out but when he fell off the ropes referee Howard Foster gave him the benefit of a slip.
Soon as Avalos was back on his feet, Frampton was on him with a vengeance going for the KO. A barrage landed on Avalos who was shaking his head which left referee Howard Foster with no option but to stop it.
Avalos certainly had come to fight and engaged in some furious exchanges – but Frampton’s speed and accuracy was just too much for the American fighter.
After the fight, Carl Frampton’s manager Barry McGuigan said that he believes he is “the best super-bantamweight in the world”.
“Carl was only in third gear against Avalos,” said the former WBA featherwieght champion.
“People talk about Scott Quigg (WBA regular champion), Guillermo Rigondeaux (WBO and WBA super champion) and Leo Santa Cruz (holder of WBC belt), but Carl is a sensational fighter and over the next few years we will prove that.
“We are happy to do business and willing to compromise regarding any future fight with Quigg but he has to remember who the real champion is and who draws the crowd.”
Carl Frampton was joined in the ring with WBA super-bantamweight world champion Scott Quigg after the fight.
Both fighters have been on a collision course to face each other, hopefully now is the time for these British world champions to face each other.
Quigg said after the fifth defence of his belt in November that a fight against Frampton is “the one I want”.
Watch this space for a Frampton and Quigg announcement….