Carl Frampton wants to end 'worst year' on a high by putting on a show in front of his Belfast fans
Friday 17 November 2017 23:05, UK
Carl Frampton is targeting victory against Mexico's Horacio Garcia on Saturday so that he can end the "worst year" of his career on a high.
The featherweight, 30, fights for the first time since suffering his first professional defeat, splitting with his trainer Shane McGuigan and manager Barry McGuigan, and since his fight with Andres Gutierrez was cancelled with less than 24 hours' notice.
The earlier defeat, by Leo Santa Cruz on January 28, was worsened by losing his WBA featherweight title, the inability to secure a lucrative third fight with that high-profile rival, and him undergoing a full training camp to return until Gutierrez's withdrawal after falling in the shower.
"It's been the worst year so far with what happened at the start, and everything that went on in the middle," he said ahead of the fight at the SSE Arena, his first in his home city of Belfast in almost three years and first under the tutelage of new trainer Jamie Moore.
"This part of my career could be the biggest yet. It's important to kick it off well and obviously important to win, so the other boys in the division know I mean business.
"The whole change, I'm feeling rejuvenated, and feel like I've an extra few years left. I feel fresher, with no injuries, and that's a lot to do with my approach to training, and the methods Jamie's using."
On the undercard Jamie Conlan, 31 and also from Belfast, fights for his first world title against IBF super flyweight champion Jerwin Ancajas, of the Philippines.
