Josh Warrington vs Carl Frampton: IBF champion retains title as Frampton ponders retirement
Follow latest reaction from the Manchester Arena
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Your support makes all the difference.Josh Warrington defeated Carl Frampton in one of the fights of the year, retaining his IBF featherweight championship and sending him on to greater things in an attempt to unify the division.
Leeds-born Warrington exploded out of the blocks in the very first round and nearly knocked Frampton down, with the former two-weight world champion only just surviving to the bell and suffering the same barrage in the second. Frampton recovered to make a fight of it in a scrap that developed into a classic, but Warrington proved a class above throughout and again nearly finished it in the 12th.
Re-live all the action here.
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Preview
When and where is the fight?
The bout will take place on December 22nd at the Manchester Arena, it was initially set to take place in a stadium but concerns over dates and mandatory challengers meant Warren settled with selecting an arena.
Ring walks will take place around 10pm but as always is the way with boxing, that is subject to change.
Where can I watch it?
It will be shown live on BT Sport Box Office, the broadcaster's second pay-per-view event of December following on from Deontay Wilder's world heavyweight title defence against Tyson Fury.
The cost of the box office event has yet to be announced but will likely be £19.95.
Can I stream online?
The fight will be shown on the BT Sport Box Office website and via the BT Sport Box Office app.
Who's going to win?
Josh Warrington 15/8
Carl Frampton 8/15
Draw 20/1
Warrington vs FramptonRound ten: Warrington lands an uppercut and it gives him the green light to go ont the attack once again, his flurry of punches lifting the fans. Frampton is starting to look very tired in there, but he attacks himself and the two once again start slugging it out in the middle. Frampton lands three good jabs at the end.
Warrington vs FramptonRound 11: Frampton needs to provide something special in these last two rounds if he's to take this one. Warrington has been sublime and still had a sping in his step that Frampton does not. Some of Frampton's punches are of real class, but it's Warrington who is landing the more powerful hits with more quantity. Frampton lands one to the jaw of Warrington but he just keeps coming, and as we go into the last this has been a fantastic bout.
Warrington vs FramptonRound 12: Warrington sense the finish before the end of the 12th as he lands a big uppercut, and Frampton is starting to look like a beaten man. Credit to him, he is still throwing, but Warrington looks in complete control. As the bell goes to end the round, the two embarce with smiles on their faces, with great respect between both of them.
Warrington vs FramptonThat was an incredible, breath-taking 12 rounds that will undoubtedly be a contender for fight of the year. How Frampton survived the first round will remain one of the mysteries of boxing, but miraculously he made it through to the 12th and looked damn good at times too. But Warrington was a class above tonight.
Let's see if the judges scorecards reflect that...
Warrington vs Frampton
Josh Warringotn beats Carl Frampton by unanimous decision 116-113, 116-112, 116-112!
Josh Warrington:
First of all, I want to say a big thank you to this man. It takes two to make a fight like that. I've always been a fan, I'm still a fan and it's just business. I hope the fans enjoyed it and I think I can have my Christmas turkey now.
He just said to...I want to keep it personal, keep it between me and Carl. One thing he did say is good luck going forward and I hope you unify the division.
We were in there with a two-weight world champion, Carl deserves credit and I'm not kist going to go in there and knock him out.
Hopefully people will stand up and know what I'm about now.
Carl Frampton:
Josh won the fight fair and square, absolutely. No excuises from me, I was in incredible shape and the better man won. I hope he goes on to great things and unifies the division. I was fit and strong, and Josh was fitter and stronger.
I was hurt a number of times in the fight and whoever says Josh can't punch I don't know what they're talking for. I trained for a good fighter but he's even better than I thought.
I'll sit down with my team, I have a young family at home and I;ve been in the game a long time. I'll make no decisions now but I'll sit down with my team and discuss what's the next move.
Frank Warren:
That was one of the best British fights I've ever seen, and I've been doing this 100 years.
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