As Carl Frampton readies himself for this weekend’s WBO super featherweight title fight against Jamel Herring, Frampton admits to RingTV that it’s been a while since he’s last fought a southpaw fighter, but isn’t concerned with the style so much as he says he’s been having good success in training.
To that end Frampton says he actually believes Herring’s height and reach will pose more of a problem than anything with Herring sporting a five inch height advantage and an even slightly bigger advantage in reach.
“I see southpaws the same way I see orthodox fighters. My distance control and feet help me and that’s what I’ve been using in this camp. I’ve been very good, making the correct decisions in sparring. If you rush in on a southpaw and stay inside their lead foot it makes it easier for them, but if you stay outside it, that kind of negates what they do well. Honestly, I don’t see the southpaw stance being a problem. Herring’s size is more of an issue because he’s a really big guy.”
But despite coming in smaller in stature, Frampton believes his footwork and hand speed are better than Herring and believes that will be enough to overcome his disadvantages to win the fight. Frampton is in fact so confident that he says if he just performs as well as he did in his last sparring session, he’ll win the fight no doubt.
How to Watch Herring vs Frampton
Date: Saturday, April 3 | Start Time: 2:00 pm ET
Location: Caesars Palace Dubai – Dubai, UAE
Streaming: ESPN+
Online Coverage: BadLeftHook.com
Frampton expects Herring will try to keep the fight at long range for as long as he possibly can but expects him to eventually fade in the middle rounds where he’ll look to take advantage. Frampton even specifically references the fact that he doesn’t believe Herring makes 130 pounds easily, and that’s another thing he also expects to play in his favor. So while Frampton says he’s physically prepared for a full 12 rounds of action, he’s also motivated by the opportunity to win a world title in a third weight class.