Carl Frampton will fight Canadian Steve Molitor on September 22 after original opponent Kiko Martinez was forced to pull out.
Canadian insists he is 'starving' for success after late call-up
Carl Frampton will now face Steve Molitor in Belfast on September 22 after original opponent Kiko Martinez was forced to pull out due to injury.
The Irish super bantamweight will put his Commonwealth and IBF International titles on the line at the Odyssey Arena,
live on Sky Sports, against the two-time world champion.
Molitor claimed the IBF strap back in 2006 with victory over Michael Hunter in Hartlepool, one of four triumphs the Canadian has enjoyed on British soil in his 36-fight career.
"I love fighting across the pond," said Molitor. "I'm four for four over there and plan on retaining that perfect record.
"I am excited about fighting Frampton. Although he is not a household name amongst the rest in my division, he is recognised as a future star.
"Scott Quigg, Kid Galahad, and Carl are all names that are trying to make a name for themselves in the 122lb division, but unfortunately none of them will be making it off the Molitor name.
"Although I am coming in off of Martinez stepping out, I have been training like a mad man for several months. I am not hungry, I am starving."
Dangerous
Barry McGuigan, Frampton's manager, believes Molitor might be an even more dangerous foe than Spaniard Martinez.
"Steve has boxed at a higher level than Kiko so this is a much tougher fight for Carl - but the kind of fight we want him to be in," he said.
"We could've looked further down the list of opponents and taken an easier fight but Carl wants to operate at World level and Molitor is certainly there.
"Most importantly we've replaced one great fight with another so the Belfast fans are still going to see an incredible night of boxing topped by a brilliant main event - one that is possibly even more exciting that the Martinez fight and that's what the fans deserve to see, Carl fighting a world-class operator."
Also on the bill, Martin Lindsay challenges Lee Selby for the British and Commonwealth featherweight titles, while Paul McCloskey returns to the ring for the first time since his defeat to DeMarcus Corley.
