Quality over quantity for Frampton ahead of homecoming bout

Irishman takes on Garcia in Belfast

Carl Frampton is back. And, hopefully, the former WBA featherweight champion returns with a bang.

The ‘Jackal’ returns to the squared circle against Mexican Horacio Garcia on Saturday night at the SSE Arena in Belfast.

It will be the first time Frampton has fought since his defeat to Leo Santa Cruz back in January. A lot has happened since that night.

New Era

A homecoming fight against Andres Gutierrez was cancelled. First Frampton failed to make weight, and then Gutierrez injured himself later that evening.

Three weeks later, the Ulsterman split with Shane and Barry McGuigan, his trainer and promotion team. The official reasons are still unknown.

Frampton is now training with Jamie Moore, the 39-year-old ex-European, Commonwealth, and British light middleweight champion.

A fire has been re-lit under the former featherweight king. He has spoken about how his love for boxing has returned.

Sparring sessions have reduced greatly to the point where it is now quality over quantity. It will be of great interest to those watching around the world if Moore has sharpened his skill set.

Frampton has spoken at length in various interviews about how he has dropped sparring partners in training with body punches.

That is a staple of any Mancunian boxer’s artillery – those vicious hooks to an opponent’s kidneys.

Garcia isn’t expected to cause too many problems for the home fighter. The 27-year-old from Guadalajara has fought mostly in Mexico.