Belfast's Carl 'The Jackal' Frampton sent out a message of
intent to his fellow super-bantamweights last night by putting
two-time world champion Steve Molitor to the sword in six
rounds.
On paper the challenge of Molitor looked like a big step up in
class for the 25-year-old Irishman.
But from the very first round it looked like being a
surprisingly easy night's work as the Canadian went into survival
mode and had to soak up Frampton's solid combinations.
Indeed, it was clear in the third that Molitor was on borrowed
time. Frampton detonated a flurry of shots which forced the visitor
to slump against the ropes just before the bell tolled to end the
stanza.
A similar assault forced Molitor down again in the fourth and
although he tried to retaliate more when the action resumed,
Frampton punished him with weighty counters.
The came at 2.21 of the sixth. A left to the head followed by a
right forced Molitor to seek the sanctuary of the canvas again and
although he again rose during referee John Keane's count, he didn't
want to continue and it was waved off.
On the face of it, this result looks like a huge statement for
Frampton but question marks will surely be asked over how much
Molitor had left after a career which has spanned more than 12
years.
"I needed to set a high pace from the start and that's what I
did," Frampton, who retained his Commonwealth and IBF
intercontinental crowns, told Sky Sports afterwards.
"We knew at some point we'd get him out of there. I didn't think
he'd like the pace and that's why we pushed so hard.
"I made him miss quite a lot - he made me miss a bit too - but
he was missing wild shots and that tires you out as well, and I was
on him the whole time."
He added: "I'm still open to fighting Scott Quigg and Rendall
Munroe but I'm not far from a world title so whatever happens first
- I'll leave it to Eddie (Hearn) and Barry (McGuigan)."
23/09/2012 14:52:49