WBA champion expecting IBF boss to come through
Thursday 26 February 2015 11:21, UK
Scott Quigg will be ringside for rival Carl Frampton's first world-title defence.
Frampton has been very vocal about it so hopefully he comes through and sticks to what he says and the fight can be made
The WBA super-bantamweight title holder is flying out to Belfast on Saturday, where the IBF champion takes on Chris Avalos.
Quigg is expecting the champion to retain his title and admits he wants Frampton to win so it will increase the rivalry and make the showdown between them move a step closer.
“It's going to be a good fight," Quigg told Sky Sports. "I don't think it's an easy fight but I do hope he comes through it so it sets up a big fight between me and him in the summer.
"That's the fight I want, that's the fight he apparently wants. He has been very vocal about it so hopefully he comes through and sticks to what he says and the fight can be made.
"I am a million per cent I will beat him if it is made."
Quigg admits he got in touch with Barry McGuigan's Cyclone Promotions to ask for tickets and will be part of the estimated 16,000 crowd at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast's Titanic Quarter.
The 26-year-old has always said he is happy to go over to Northern Ireland for a unification fight and is looking forward to Saturday night "as a fight fan".
And although he expects Frampton to stop Avalos, he has sparred with the challenger and expects him to take it into the later rounds.
"I sparred with him at the Wild Card back in 2009, then a couple of years ago," said Quigg.
"He has matured as a fighter since when I first sparred him. He was quite reckless and easy to hit, but he's got a good chin and is strong.
"He can be hit to the body though and I had some success there, but sparring is sparring, this is different. He has been matched hard and well, from an early stage.
"I do side with Carl, I think he's more skilled and got more to his game but Chris Avalos comes with a lot of confidence. He likes to talk trash but he believes in himself - and a fighter who believes in himself can be dangerous."
You can hear more from Quigg, Anthony Joshua, Paul Smith and plenty on Mayweather v Pacquiao on the Toe 2 Toe podcast, which can you download or listen to at skysports.com/podcasts/toe-2-toe.
