One of the bouts fans in the United Kingdom have pined for is a showdown between junior featherweight titleholders Carl Frampton of Northern Ireland and England?s Scott Quigg.
Promotional entanglements and a general disagreement on how to divide the pot of gold have kept them apart, so they are going their separate ways for the time being. While Frampton will defend his title against Mexico?s Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. (25-1-2, 15 KOs) on Saturday (CBS, 4 p.m. ET) in El Paso, Texas, Quigg will step into the ring about an hour or so later to defend his secondary belt — Guillermo Rigondeaux is the top champion — against titlist Kiko Martinez at Manchester Arena in Manchester, England.
For those who want to compare Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs), 28, and Quigg (30-0-2, 22 KOs), 26, with each other, Martinez (32-5, 24 KOs), 29, of Spain, provides the perfect measuring stick because Frampton owns two wins against Martinez.
In 2013, he knocked him out in the ninth round to win the European junior featherweight title. Martinez went on to claim a world title and eventually lost it to Frampton by lopsided decision last September.
Some have accused Quigg, who will be making his fifth title defense, of taking on Frampton?s leftovers, but Quigg said he will be impressive in victory.
?It?s a fight that we want to go out and make a real statement,? Quigg said. ?I?m confident that I can go out there and do a number on him. We?ve been preparing for what we expect Kiko to bring. We aren?t leaving anything to chance.
?Kiko?s experience, knowledge and ability has improved dramatically over the years. He?s become a much more intelligent fighter since winning a world title.
Kiko knows how and when to apply educated pressure rather than a fight like a headless chicken. I?m expecting him to come out all guns blazing from the off. He will get a massive shock when I return fire. Kiko doesn?t like being backed up and that?s something I?m confident I can do throughout.?
Martinez, ever the road warrior, said he has the plan to beat Quigg.
?Quigg is a very good fighter. Technically he is very close to perfection,? Martinez said. ?But I think that he is not a great slugger and he has not fought against high-level opponents like I have. I think that he will try to make a long-distance fight. He will look to go to the final round and not exchange blows with me. We have a fight plan for 12 rounds and I will follow it. If I win by knockout it will be better, but the goal is the belt.?
Quigg knows that many will view his performance against Martinez and compare it to Frampton?s.
?Frampton?s team had to make that move to go over to America because he has run out of options over here other than face me,? Quigg said. ?I do have renewed confidence that after [Saturday], after I?ve dealt with Kiko, we can sit down and get this fight finally done.
?People have criticized the opponents I?ve faced over the years, but no disrespect to the guy Frampton is fighting but we had never heard of him. I?m training hard and the support has been fantastic from my fans. I can assure them that on [Saturday] they will get the performance and statement they deserve.
?To those that criticise me — I?m looking forward to silencing you.?
Whether a Frampton-Quigg fight can be made remains to be seen, but if Quigg wins Saturday and former titleholder Nonito Donaire (34-3, 22 KOs), the ?Filipino Flash,? who fights France?s Anthony Settoul (20-3, 8 KOs) on Saturday in Macau, China, also wins, there?s a good chance Quigg may defend against Donaire in the fall.
Also on the card, lightweight titlist Darleys Perez (32-1, 20 KOs), 31, of Colombia, makes his first defense when he takes on Manchester?s Anthony Crolla (29-4-2, 11 KOs), 28. Also on the card in a scheduled eight-round bout: England?s Martin Murray (30-2-1, 13 KOs), 32, a longtime middleweight contender and former title challenger, will take part in his second bout since moving up to super middleweight when he takes on Mirzet Bajrektarevic (14-3, 8 KOs), 35, of Croatia, in a stay-busy fight.
