Assuming the Quigg fight won't be made, who should Frampton fight next?

[ImElvis666]

I think Fernando Montiel would be a great fight. Vastly experienced but has seen better days.

[dftaylor]

Montiel still seems a BIG risk for Frampton, especially since Carl showed a few weaknesses he needs to work on. Montiel's left-hook and punch selection could still be too much for a novice.

[I Shot JR]

He needs to fight someone in the top 15 if he is out again in May. I personally wouldn't make his next fight taxing if Quigg is willing to fight later on this year.

[ImElvis666]

Originally Posted by dftaylor

Montiel still seems a BIG risk for Frampton, especially since Carl showed a few weaknesses he needs to work on. Montiel's left-hook and punch selection could still be too much for a novice.

I'd call it a calculated risk. Frampton is definitely still learning but I think Montiel has been relatively unimpressive since moving up to 122. He's lost to Terrazas and had two very close fights against gatekeeper/journeymen fighters last year.

Montiel was a top drawer bantam and even though he's far more accomplished than Kiko Martinez, at this stage, I don't think he poses any more of a risk than the guy he traded leather with tonight.

[USA Rob]

WBC Title Vacant - Terrezaz vs Mijares April 20th
1. Victor Terrazaz
2. Christian Mijares
3. Vic Darchinyan
4. Alexander Bakhtin
5. Hugo Cazares
6. Sod Kokietgym
7. Kiko Martinez
8. Carl Frampton
9. Akifumi Shimoda
10. Yoandris Salinas

IBF Title Vacant - Lopez vs Romero February 16th
1. Alejandro Lopez
2. Jhonatan Romero
3. Alexander Bakhtin
4. Jeffery Mathebula
5. Takalani Ndlovu
6. Kiko Martinez
7. Rico Ramos
8. Vic Darchinyan
9. Carl Frampton
10. Jeremy Parodi

Vic Darchinyan (WBC No.3, IBF No.6) would be a final Eliminator. Jeffery Mathebula (IBF No.4) or Takalani Ndlovu (IBF No.5) could also be Eliminators. All x World Champions and the fights could be for the Commonwealth title which Frampton holds. Alexander Bakhtin (IBF No.3 & WBC No.4) would be and final Eliminator and also for the European title.

All would be great fights for Frampton May 11th and would make him mandatory for the winner off Terrezaz vs Mijares (WBC) or Lopez vs Romero (IBF) later in the year. You could imagine it wouldn't be to tricky to get those fights over in the UK.

[Jack]

I'd go for Darchinyan. A fun fighter, who is past his best but still carries a threat. A former world champion too, so it'd be an easy fight to sell, and one I think Frampton would win.

[smegmaa]

It'll be an eliminator for th IBF says Eddie, speciality

[moorser]

no need to rush, make a defence or 2 of the european against casey and someone else then go fir the world title.

[JFT96]

There is absolutely no need to rush him towards a World title shot. He's only had 16 fights for God's sake, even if he does hold some impressive wins in that period. Luckily, the division is so stacked that there are plenty of meaningful tests out there for him who don't hold a belt and the older, fading names would be the ones I'd target.

I'd rule out Vic though. He may have looked done at World level against Yamanaka and Moreno but that's a completely different situation to fighting someone like Frampton. He showed how much of a live threat and how dangerous he is in his last fight when he beat Del Valle, who I really considered a top prospect.

But a couple of other names mentioned in this thread, Montiel and Mathebula, would be great tests IMO. Montiel is more shopworn IMO than Vic and he doesn't pose the awkwardness that Darchinyan brings either. Although he was a top class fighter just a few years ago, it's a style that looks to have caught up with him and vs. someone who is as sharp in his punching and movement as Frampton is, I think he'd majorly struggle these days.

Mathebula has never been all that and is hardly a spring chicken himself. Out of the three, that's probably the fight I'd look for most because I think, whilst providing a test for Frampton, he'd be the best to look good against.

[DeMarco]

Agbeko in a commonwealth defence please!

[PaulieMc]

Make a defence or two of the European title. Way too good for domestic level but has few things to work on before he goes after the real big boys. If he went straight into a world title fight next like McGuigan and all the Irish press were saying then he'd lose handily.

Should stay at Euro level for a little while and gain some more experience.

[Smoggy7188]

Ndlovu for Commenwealth would be good or Parodi for European and his ibf trinket belt.

[thewinfella]

Originally Posted by ImElvis666

I think Fernando Montiel would be a great fight. Vastly experienced but has seen better days.

Has Montiel not gone up ??

I dont really want to settle for anything other than Quigg, both guys have promoters who like to take a little bit of risk, there is no reason this fight cannot be made, both will have to accept a moderate purse for the risk, but thats the game, take risks win fights and collect your dues

[El Greeno]

I would stay away from Mathebula. That dude is just too awkward to be worth it at this point.