Frampton Set to Leave BT Sport After Warrington Fight & Join ITV

Former two-weight World Champion Carl Frampton looks set to leave BT Sports & Frank Warren’s promotional stable to join the PBC revolution on ITV.

According to Tim Smith, Vice President of Communications for Haymon Boxing, which still handles the fighter, the Northern Irish hero is unlikely to remain in his current promotional situation beyond his World title fight with Josh Warrington on 22nd December.

“Beyond [Warrington] I’m sure Frampton’s fights will be available for ITV. I’m not particularly sure what the future holds for Frampton, but being that [Frampton] is a PBC fighter, there is more than a likely chance that his fights will be on ITV,” said Smith.

The PBC still hold the keys to a lot of potential fights for Frampton at featherweight, including WBC champion Gary Russell Jr. (29-1, 17 KOs), or the conclusion of a trilogy of fights with WBA titleholder Leo Santa Cruz (35-1-1, 19 KOs).

Frampton is the current WBO interim title holder, but fights for the IBF version of the featherweight crown against Josh Warrington, next weekend in Manchester on BT Sport Box Office.

The winner was expected to unify with full WBO champion Oscar Valez (24 –0, 19 KOs) in spring 2019.

If the move happens, it could be the PBC’s first significant blow to the current established promotional order in the UK. Frank Warren had looked to be having a resurgent 2018, signing both Frampton and heavyweight star, Tyson Fury, in the face of stiff competition from Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom operation.

If Frampton can get past Warrington, 2019 could setup be big years for both him and the UK boxing market.