Carl Frampton takes on Nonito Donaire at the SSE Arena in Belfast on April 21 for the WBO Interim world featherweight title.
Frampton (24-1) a two-weight world champion will enjoy the home support when he takes on four weight world champion Donaire (38-4). With an interim title now on the line, both fighters have an extra incentive.
Oscar Valdez, the current WBO featherweight champion recently defeated Scott Quigg on points and the winner of the interim title will now become a mandatory challenger to face Valdez.
Frampton told MTK Globals website: “I’m completely focused on Donaire first and foremost but the fact it’s for the WBO interim title and the winner gets a shot at Valdez gives it something extra.
“I’ve always been a fan of Donaire. It’s an exciting fight and I’m prepared for a hard night. I’ve got some quality American sparring in and I’m going to come into this one in the shape of my life.
“I respect and admire Valdez, too. I like how he fights but I believe I’d have the beating of him. I was encouraged because Quigg had success against him.
“Quigg missed the weight badly and I knew in my head that’s how he was going to approach the fight. He wanted to soak up as much as possible and try to walk through it. It was wrong, disrespectful and cheating in a way.
“Unless Quigg wins a world title, I’m not interested in him. I need to worry about Donaire and then when I’ve got the job done I’m chasing the likes of Valdez and the winner of Lee Selby v Josh Warrington.
“I give credit to Frank Warren and MTK Global for getting this over the line. It’s going to be a special night in Belfast.”
Frampton and Donaire have both been world champions in the featherweight division and both will be looking to make it happen again.
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