End-of-year date set for Warrington v Frampton

Come and get it: Josh Warrington celebrates beating
Lee Selby on a split decision. (Picture: Steve Riding) — Come and get it: Josh Warrington celebrates beating Lee Selby on a split decision. (Picture: Steve Riding)

Warren said he would schedule a lucrative all-British bout for the closing months of 2018 provided Frampton avoided defeat to Australia’s Jackson in August and Warrington retained his IBF featherweight belt in the meantime.

A clash between Warrington and Frampton has been in the pipeline since Warrington claimed the IBF title by upsetting the odds with a dramatic points win over Welshman Lee Selby at Elland Road last month.

Belfast’s Frampton – a two-weight world champion – is without a title after defeat to Mexico’s Leo Santa Cruz last year but will take another step towards another belt when he meets unbeaten Jackson at Windsor Park on August 18.

It was a bloody contest between Josh Warrington and Lee Selby at Elland Road (Picture: Steve Riding)

Speaking at a press conference to announce that fight – on a bill which also includes the return of Tyson Fury – Warren said the winner of Frampton’s bout against Jackson would secure a shot at Warrington’s IBF crown.

Warren promotes both Warrington and Frampton and saw the former produce the performance of his career to earn a split decision over Selby in front of a crowd of 20,000 at Elland Road on May 19.

Warrington and Warren are due to meet tomorrow to discuss the possibility of the Leeds fighter making a first defence before a potential showdown with Frampton.

“We’ll make a decision on whether he (Warrington) is going to have another fight,” Warren said. “But provided they’re both winning fighters, it’ll happen this year. That’s the objective. If (Jackson) wins, he’ll fight Warrington next, as simple as that.

Carl Frampton at ringside of the Warrington v Selby clash in May (Picture: PA)

“There’s a lot riding on this fight. At the end of the day, the plan is for these two guys to meet – Leeds with those great supporters, Belfast supporters. It’s a fantastic fight. But they can’t afford any slip-ups.”

Warrington secured his first world title and extended his perfect record to 27-0 in a bloody and compelling scrap with Selby.

Frampton, whose defeat to Santa Cruz is the only blemish on his record, was at ringside at Elland Road and will attempt to bring on an IBF bout by inflicting Jackson’s first professional loss.

Warren suggested initially that complications with staging Warrington-Frampton at either Elland Road or Windsor Park during the football season might delay a meeting until next summer but Warrington left no doubt about his desire to take on the Belfast boxer.

Talking after his victory over Selby, Warrington said: “I was down in the BT studios two weeks ago and I passed Carl. I saw that he was picking Selby to win and I said ‘here Carl, I know you’ve picked Selby but he’s having it and after that I wouldn’t mind coming to Windsor Park and fighting you.’ Leeds fans love an away day. My heart says let’s get it on.