Belfast’s favorite Carl Frampton wowed a capacity crowd at the Odyssey Arena to keep a firm grip on his IBF super bantamweight title.
‘The Jackal’ had way too much in his arsenal for the American whose tactics have to be questioned against one of the hardest punchers in the division. Avalos, 25, decided to fight fire with fire on what was his first world title shot, but ultimately came unstuck as Frampton pounded him to head and body until the fight was cut short in the fifth.
A crushing uppercut proved to be the final telling blow landed by the champion as 28 year-old Frampton made it 20 straight wins since entering the paid ranks back in 2009, and in the process inflicted a first stoppage defeat on Avalos.
Afterward, Frampton shared the ring with arch-rival Scott Quigg in order to talk-up a potential UK blockbuster in the summer as both look to put their respective world titles on the line in a fight the British public has been craving for some time.
UNDERCARD
On the undercard, Denton Vassell looked out of sorts as experienced Ukrainian Viktor Plotnykov gave him a tough night before claiming a 118-108 (twice) and 115-111 victory on the scorecards. Vassell was hoping to place himself handily for a future shot at IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook with a win, but instead dropped to 21-3 and faces a hard road back on that performance.
Heavyweight Dillian Whyte stopped previously undefeated Beka Lobjanidze in four rounds, although judging by his actions at the end of the contest you’d have been forgiven for thinking that the Londoner had lost. The 26 year-old, who was visibly upset at the end of the fight, is now 14-0 with 11 stoppages after scoring a tenth straight knockout and is still yet to be taken past four rounds by any opponent.
Marco McCullough, Paddy Gallagher, Conrad Cummings and Anthony Cacace all enjoyed triumphs earlier in the night.
