By Richard O'Reilly
Nobody loves a local boxer as much as the Northern Ireland public, McGuigan, McCullough, Storey, etc. and Carl Frampton is no different.
The Jackal takes on Andres Gutierrez in his native Belfast this weekend. The SSE Arena plays host as Frampton looks to get back to winning ways after defeat to Leo Santa Cruz in January.
So without any further ado, here's everything you need to know about the Jackal's fight on Saturday night.
The Venue:
The fight itself takes place at the SSE Arena on Saturday at 10:10pm. However doors open as early as 5pm. There's the small matter of the undercard as well, where Coalisland man Conrad Cummings will take on Robert Swierzbinski at 8pm.
It's not all just about the main event, with Carl holding an open training session on Wednesday afternoon at Victoria Square. The workout gets underway at 12:30pm.
Then on Friday it's all about the weigh-in at the Europa Hotel on Friday 28th July. Both fighters will check their final weight at 12:30pm.
So there's plenty to get your teeth into before the fight itself gets underway.
It's #FightWeek! Why not get involved, boxing fans? 👊🏻 pic.twitter.com/xsjSvmERFo
— Cyclone Promotions (@CyclonePromo) July 24, 2017
Important show information for #ReturnOfTheJackal tomorrow! #FramptonGutierrez pic.twitter.com/G0MHSD0fva
— SSE Arena Belfast (@SSEBelfastArena) July 28, 2017
The Opponent:
Coming off the back of a loss to Leo Santa Cruz earlier in the year, the 30 year old Frampton will be taking on a very solid fighter in Gutierrez. The 24 year old Mexican boasts a record of 35-1-1, 25KOs. So is clearly no slouch. Particularly given he has only needed to go the distance ten times in order to win a fight.
Frampton will however, be confident of beating Gutierrez. The Belfast man will want to draw Gutierrez inside rather than allowing him to box. Frampton's problem in his second bout with Santa Cruz was that he was simply out-boxed by him, staying outside and not being drawn into a war. The Jackal will want to ensure that doesn't happen against Guttierez.
Lets go champ, it's fight week! #TheHomecoming 🙌🏻 pic.twitter.com/50AIQvx3Ss
— Conrad Cummings (@ChampCummings) July 24, 2017
Where to watch:
The most preferable way to watch the fight is to have a ticket for the event, allowing one to 'swagger' in the door, find your seat and enjoy the spectacle that is professional boxing.
However if actually attending the fight is not an option fear not, there are other ways to witness the event. The fine folks at Channel 5 are broadcasting the fight live on Friday night.
On top of that Q Radio Sport will have a reporter there, and will be tweeting live updates, and keeping us all up to date with the glove on glove action.
Prepare for the return of The Jackal. @RealCFrampton is coming home. 29.7.17. #ReturnOfTheJackal pic.twitter.com/lh68EDJoUv
— Channel 5 Sport (@Channel5Sport) July 19, 2017
Who will win?
I cannot in good consciousness back anyone other than Carl Frampton for this. I doubt I'd ever be able to safely walk the streets of Belfast ever again if I suggested Gutierrez was in with a shout. The bookmakers seem to agree, with one bookie offering odds of 1/25 for a Frampton victory.
So there you have it, once again Belfast will welcome a sporting icon back to the city as Carl continues to etch his name into the pantheon of Northern Ireland greatness, already filled with illustrious names like Best, Higgins and McGuigan.