Carl Frampton tuned up for a Fall title shot with a 7th round stoppage over Darren Traynor in a lightweight bout at York Hall in London, England,

In round six, Frampton dropped Traynor with a hard left to the body. In round seven, He landed another left to the body, and Traynor waved No-Mas and the fight was over.

Frampton, 134.4 lbs of Belfast, Ireland will now fight Jamel Herring (should Herring be successful on September 5th against Jonathan Oquend) with a record of 28-2 with 16 knockouts. Traynor, 134 1/4 lbs of Scotland is 16-4.

Said Frampton, “I’m happy to get the win, obviously. Far from my best, but I suppose people talk about rounds. I don’t think it’s going to harm me doing the rounds. If I had the chance to take him out in the first round, I would’ve done that.

“It was a better opponent for Herring than the original opponent because I think he was about my height, maybe even a little bit shorter. Darren isn’t a southpaw, but the dimensions are similar. I know I need to be a lot better for Herring. It’s good to get the rounds done. My hands are fine. No issues there. Onward and upward.”

Conlan stops Takoucht in 10th

Michael Conlan remained undefeated by stopping former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht in the 10th and final round of their featherweight bout.

In round four, Conlan was deducted a point for a low blow. In round five, he was deducted another point for a low blow.

In round 10, Conlan landed a hard combination that hurt Takoucht. Conlan drove him to the ropes and the fight was stopped.

Conlan, 126.25 lbs of Belfast is 14-0 with eight knockouts. Takoucht, 126.6 lbs of France is 35-5.

Sharp Decisions Ofori

Archie Sharp barley remained undefeated by winning a decision over Jeff Ofori in a lightweight bout.

Ofori out-landed Sharp 124-112.

Sharp, 133 lbs of Wailing win by a 96-95 score and is now 19-0. Ofori, 131.1 lbs of London is 10-3-1.

EARLY RESULTS FROM LONDON

Troy Williamson won a hard-fought 10-round unanimous decision over Harry Scarf in a junior middleweight bout.

Williams, 152.8 lbs won by scores of 97-94, 96-94 and 96-95 and is now 15-0-1. Scarf, 153.3 lbs is 8-2.

Paddy Donovan destroyed an overmatched Des Newton in the 1st round of their scheduled six-round welterweight bout

Donovan dropped Newton in the first 30 seconds with a left hand. Donovan finished thing with two massive body shots, with the latter being a left right to the gut that put Newton down and in a lot of pain and the fight was stopped.

Donovan, 146.5 lbs is 4-0 with three knockouts. Newton, 149.3 lbs is 8-16.

LONDON (August 13, 2020) — The Belfast Boys, former two-weight world champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton and unbeaten featherweight Michael “Mick” Conlan, participated in a Zoom press conference Wednesday in advance of their co-headlining bouts Saturday on ESPNfrom London (4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT). Conlan will face recent world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht, while Frampton, who is currently campaigning at junior lightweight, will make a pit stop at lightweight against Scottish veteran Darren Traynor.

The ESPN opener features world-ranked junior lightweight contender Archie Sharp against Jeff Oforiin a 10-rounder. 

Here is what Frampton, Conlan and Top Rank chairman Bob Arum had to say.

Carl Frampton

On the late opponent switch and fighting at lightweight rather than junior lightweight

“Obviously, it was a disaster, the whole lead-up regarding opponents. I have to give MTK Global credit. They assumed there could’ve been {an issue} because of the current situation that the whole world is facing. It turned out Corona didn’t affect anything, but the issue was visa problems for {Vahram} Vardanyan, the original opponent. I think Traynor has been paid by MTK for the last four or five weeks on the chance that this fight may have come about. So, Traynor has been training for me for five weeks. I’ve been training for him for one week.”

On fighting as a lightweight for the first time

“It hasn’t really affected me, to be honest. I’ve enjoyed this fight week more than any other because I’ve been doing the weight OK.

“Although I’m short in stature, I walk around about 150, 148 anyway. {Traynor} is probably doing me a favor as well.”

On the Jamel Herring fight

“That’s the fight that I want. We kind of had a date agreed — June 13 was the proposed date, and I think everything was pretty much set to go and the fight was going to happen. And I supposed with it kind of falling away that he wouldn’t be as keen anymore or maybe Top Rank wouldn’t be as keen to make the fight, or the governing body. But everyone seems on board. I want the fight. Jamel wants it. Top Rank and Bob Arum want it. I think that is the plan, to have that fight next.”

On a potential third Leo Santa Cruz fight

“I don’t see that fight ever happening. I think Leo did promise that, but I think, to be honest, he’s full of sh*t. The fight could’ve happened if he wanted it to happen. It never has, and it’s a shame.”

Bob Arum

On the status of Herring vs. Frampton

“If Jamel is successful {Sept. 5 against Jonathan Oquendo}, and if Carl is successful on Saturday, I have a date picked out in November where they’ll fight for the title. That’s done. Everyone is on board. One thing I can’t control is the virus, but we’re going to do that fight in November. It may very well be another ‘Bubble’ fight.

“If both guys win these interim fights, you can count on a world title fight between Herring and Frampton in November.”

Michael Conlan

On fighting in an empty arena

“This is something I’ve wanted to do. It’s going to be a challenge, something different, something I haven’t experienced as a fighter, boxing in an arena with no one there. It’s exciting me to hear those winces and the pounding of the breath, everything about it. It’s something that’s lit a spark under me in training camp. I’ve been sparring with no music on.”

On moving down junior featherweight after Saturday’s fight

“I came out of this pandemic lighter than I’ve ever been. I think it’s just the reset button on me, myself, and I’ve kind of refocused myself. I can make 122 tomorrow if I really needed to. That’s why the decision was made.

“We’ll fight Takoucht at 126, and then after that, we’ll move down.

“I would love a {world title shot} in my next fight. I know it may not be possible the way things stand with the WBO, but 100 percent I’d be happy to challenge for the WBO title next.

“I’d be confident in facing any of {the champions now}. If that was the case, it’d be no problem. But we’ll get this one out of the way Saturday and then 122, here I come.”

On fight week during a pandemic

“If I’m being honest, it’s the most relaxed and chilled fight week I’ve had. Usually, we have the hoopla, the hyperbole, everyone around, having to go here and there to do interviews. It’s been chilled at the hotel, chilled out with the team, having fun. This time I actually brought my PlayStation and I’m playing some “Call of Duty.”

On fighting an opponent who recently fought world champion Josh Warrington and equaling what Warrington accomplished (second-round stoppage win)

“It’s different situations. Warrington was coming off three great wins against three really top-class opponents, and he faced Takoucht, who is relatively unknown, in his own backyard in front of 20,000 of his fans. I think {Takoucht} froze in front of the headlights. I would be stupid and reckless if I were to go out and try and blast this guy out like Warrington did, but I definitely will be going in to make a statement. I’ll do it in my own way. I don’t need to live up to anybody’s expectations or compare myself to Josh Warrington. I’m Michael Conlan.”

CARL FRAMPTON takes on Darren Traynor in the fourth show of Frank Warren’s summer series, live on BT Sport on Saturday night. The Jackal is bidding to keep himself firmly on track for a WBO world super featherweight title showdown against Jamel Herring later this year, so he cannot afford any slip-ups against the tough Scot from Aberdeen.

Also on the card, Michael Conlan faces former world title challenger Sofiane Takoucht over ten rounds, with Troy Williamson also defending his IBF European super welterweight title against former English champion Harry Scarff. Archie Sharp defends his WBO European belt against Jeff Ofori, with elite level prospects Dennis McCann and Paddy Donovan making up the card.

Selected press conference quotes below.

All photos from today can be found here.

Frank Warren
We have already done three shows since lockdown and that was us dipping our toe back in the water. It was a case of getting the shows on and doing what we had to do as far as the safety aspect was concerned, while we got some of our young guys out and now we are stepping it up a gear.

Carl, a two-weight world champion, who was due to fight in the summer against Jamel Herring before the virus took hold, so now in the meantime he has got to keep busy and on Saturday he is fighting Darren Traynor as a replacement for his original opponent. Darren has been training very hard and fancies his chances.

It is something Carl has got to come through and not make any mistakes before getting to Herring in the autumn. Michael Conlan is not far off fighting for a world title and he is fighting Sofiane Takoucht, who has had 40 fights and won 35 of them. So he is very experienced and can give Michael a lot of things to think about.

If he is half the fighter we think he is then he is going to look good.

Dennis McCann is a great, young talent and that is what he is at the moment, a talent. He needs to work hard and have dedication because talent only gets you so far. For me he is one of the best young talents I have seen for many, many years.

Providing he keeps doing what he’s doing and stays focused I think he has got the potential to be one of the outstanding British fighters of his generation.

Troy Williamson v Harry Scarff is a cracking fight on paper. Troy, last time out, pole axed his opponent with an amazing KO punch and now his name is in the limelight. This is a tough fight, but we believe in him and think he has a great chance of going all the way.

Archie Sharp is going from strength to strength and has pulled some big punches out of the bag in his last few fights. I know Jeff Ofori is going to be up for it but I believe in Archie and if he wins this fight, then has one more before Christmas, he could be mandatory for a world title shot, which could be the winner of Carl against Jamel Herring.

Dennis McCann
I will be going into the fight for the first time as a married man. I am trying to buy a house and that is the plan. It is the way forward because a lot of kids my age will spend £500-600 on a pair of shoes and I will invest in houses.

I’ve heard from Naseem Hamed as I know his son very well and I went training with him the other day in Sheffield when I went sparring. He is a very nice bloke and I told him I have a better screwshot than he did! He reckons I am top class and told me to keep doing what I am doing.

Troy Williamson
I don’t go looking for power punches, if they come they come. Scarf is very awkward but he can be that all he likes because I’ve got ten rounds to pin him down and I think I will in the later rounds. With the 10oz gloves on I just need to land because I punch very hard for my weight. It looked like Scarf froze against Anthony Fowler, but his feet were too slow on the night and he couldn’t cut the ring down. I’ve got faster feet than Fowler and I genuinely believe I will get him out of there.

I want to be the man at 11st and I am confident I will beat anyone domestically.

Darren Traynor
This is my opportunity and my chance of getting back on the big stage again. I never ever thought I would be getting in the ring with Carl Frampton but now it is happening. I have to believe I can do it.

Carl Frampton
I respect anyone who steps between the ropes and even more so when they are fighting me. I think Darren is better than the original opponent and he has certainly fought at a higher level. What was going to be my first fight at super featherweight is now going to be my first at lightweight.

Darren has been training on the off-chance there were problems and he has been working for a number of weeks now, so it is not going to be an easy fight. I know that he is coming with nothing to lose and everything to gain, which brings its own pressures.

I just can’t be complacent for one second and I am looking forward to putting on a good show. I need to win because, if I lose the fight, my career is over. I’m not prepared to do that.

Legacy is a big driving force for me and if I win a third world title it will cement my place as Ireland’s greatest ever fighter, ahead of Steve Collins, Barry McGuigan, Katie Taylor and a few others. That is what I want.

Archie Sharp
Fighting and winning a world title is what I came into boxing to do and to fight big names like Carl. No disrespect, but Carl is in a position where he has a target on his back and it is a fight I want. I am in the game to be the best.

Jeff was my sparring partner for the Lyon Woodstock fight two years ago. A lot changes in two years and I have grown into a different fighter and, no disrespect, in the two years I have picked titles up and unfortunately he hasn’t.

I know Jeff keeps himself in the best shape possible and it is going to be tough. He is probably thinking he will get in and give Archie a hard night’s work, but I have been boxing since the age of seven so it is nothing unusual to me.

He is fit and will be on his game, but I am in the best shape I have ever been.

Jeff Ofori
One hundred per cent I can cause an upset. Where I am from not many fighters get the opportunity so , for me, I will grab it with both hands. I’ve been training right through and I am ready to go. I don’t think he will underestimate me because he wants to keep the platform he’s got. I’ve got other plans and I am hungry to stay in the game and be in the best fights.

Winning would definitely change my life.

CARL FRAMPTON WILL now face Scotland’s Darren Traynor when he returns to the ring on BT Sport this Saturday.

The two-weight world champion, who is lined up for a tilt at a third world title at super featherweight against Jamel Herring towards the end of the year, is looking to retain his ring sharpness after his scheduled shot at the WBO belt held by Herring was pushed back due to Covid-19 restrictions.

The Jackal, 33, was initially booked to fight Vahram Vardanyan over 10 rounds in the fourth of Frank Warren’s summer series of post-lockdown promotions but the Armenian, who is based in Riga, encountered visa issues and was denied entry into the country.

The 33-year-old Traynor, known as ‘Trayn-Wreck’, has stepped in to fill the void and the 16-3 will view taking on a ring legend such as Frampton as an unexpected and golden opportunity.

A former Scottish champion, Traynor was undefeated in his first 11 fights before coming up against Ryan Walsh for the British featherweight title and was stopped in five rounds. He has previously challenged for the WBA International super featherweight title and was stopped by Frampton’s countryman, the big-punching James Tennyson.

Traynor has recorded seven KOs from his 16 wins.

Promoter Frank Warren explained: “The complex travel restrictions currently in place made it impossible to guarantee the arrival of Vardanyan, along with complications regarding his requirement for a visa when the agencies responsible for issue at his end are at not at the moment fully operational.

“It is disappointing for Carl and ourselves but we couldn’t allow any uncertainty to extend into fight week because Carl does not need any distractions ahead of what is an important fight for him.

“Carl is gunning for a third world title at a third different weight and cannot afford any mishaps on Saturday night. Darren Traynor is ready to step in and fully prepared to give Carl the competitive fight he needs before heading into WBO world championship battle against Jamel Herring, hopefully, later this year.”

Also featuring on the card is Michael Conlan taking on former world featherweight title challenger Sofiane Takoucht, Archie Sharp defending his WBO European super featherweight title against Jeff Ofori and Troy Williamson defending his IBF European super welterweight title. Top prospects Dennis McCann (bantam) and Paddy Donovan (welter) have their seventh and fourth professional fights respectively.