Carl Frampton says he contemplated retirement after his loss to Josh Warrington but now feels he can challenge for a world title again.
The Northern Irishman has held world titles in two weight classes but fell short in his bid to claim Warrington’s IBF featherweight belt in December with a unanimous decision defeat.
Frampton concedes he considered calling time on his career in the wake of that loss, but he has now decided to fight on and hopes he will have another chance to be a world champion again in the not too distant future.
“Initially, after the fight, I didn’t want to box anymore, that was it,” Frampton told the Mirror. “Then I reflected on it, had a bit of a think and just thought it was a bad night. “I wouldn’t want to finish on a fight like that.
I feel I have a lot more to give and I want to prove it. “It’s almost like a redemption crusade now. I still believe I can beat guys like Warrington and [WBO featherweight champion] Oscar Valdez. “I want to win a world title again. I think I can do that.”
Frampton doesn’t think his defeat to Warrington will negatively impact his chances of landing a world title fight, and ‘The Jackal’ says the title holders could even be more interested in taking him on as they may view him as an easier target.
“I’m still appealing to the other names in the division, perhaps even more appealing now because I lost to Warrington,” he added. “That’s what happened when I got dropped in Texas, the Scott Quigg fight got made.
Things happen and the landscape is constantly changing. “I don’t want to go round the houses to get that world title shot. I want a shot at one of the world champions now. Without blowing smoke up my own backside, I’m still one of the big names in the division.”
“Valdez, [Leo] Santa Cruz, who knows? At this moment in time anything is possible. We will know more in the next couple of weeks.”
