Carl Frampton claims Josh Warrington is lucky to still be unbeaten as he recalls 2017 win over Kiko Martinez: ‘In my humble opinion he lost that fight’

Carl Frampton believes Josh Warrington is fortunate to still have an unbeaten record and has told the IBF featherweight world champion that he is inferior in ‘every single department’ ahead of their title showdown on December 22.

There has been a reasonably calm build-up to the fascinating meeting of two elite British featherweights at the Manchester Arena, but tensions between the pair are starting to increase as the fight draws closer.

That much was obvious in Frampton’s assessment on Wednesday of the champion, who was impressive in beating Lee Selby by split decision to win the title in May, having edged a majority decision against Kiko Martinez a year earlier.

Frampton cited that 2017 win over Martinez — a former super-bantamweight world champion twice beaten by Frampton — and claimed Warrington was fortunate to get the call, before offering only muted praise of his upset win over Selby.

In running rule over Warrington’s two biggest victories, the former two-weight world champion said: ‘I have watched the fight against Kiko Martinez recently and in my humble opinion he lost that fight.

‘With Selby, I knew that Selby was struggling with weight issues and that one day sooner rather later it would catch up with him. I still thought he would have enough to beat Josh.

‘What surprised was how little he offered that night rather than how much Warrington had to give. I still believe Warrington is a good fighter but I believe I am a better fighter. It is a cliché but I am a level above anyone he has ever fought before.’

Warrington goes into the fight with a perfect record of 27 wins but has never been dropped, but Frampton believes he has the power for a knockdown.

IBF world champion Warrington is unbeaten throughout his 27-fight professional career

He said: ‘I have beaten big names and I have beaten all sorts of different style and Josh Warrington doesn’t have anything I haven’t seen before.

‘I have enough power to hurt him but I do believe in every single department I am better than him and that will be the real difference. Potentially I could stop him but I am not going to say I will because I am preparing for 12 hard rounds. I do have the power to take out any featherweight.’

Frampton, 31, is looking to win a world title almost two years after losing his WBA belt against Leo Santa Cruz in the only defeat of his career.

‘I have been written off by people and people don’t want to see me do well so this title, if not meaning more than the rest, would definitely be as much as them,’ said Frampton. It is going to be a big deal for me.’

One of Warrington’s victories came via a majority decision against Kiko Martinez in 2017

Warrington was less than impressed by Frampton’s view that he is better in every respect. He responded on Wednesday night: ‘He is a bit full of himself, I guess. That is a bit of a cocky comment to say he is better in every department. I have had a feeling he is overlooking me.

‘I’m not worried about his power. I have been caught clean by big hitters before, to head and body, and I have never felt hurt. I can put hand to heart on that. He might have been a big puncher at super-bantam but I don’t think he is that kind of puncher at featherweight.’

Josh Warrington defends his IBF World Featherweight title against Carl Frampton exclusively live on BT Sport Box Office, Saturday 22 December. Watch for just £19.95, for more info visit www.bt.com/sportboxoffice.

Challenger Frampton suggested that 28-year-old Warrington is lucky to still be unbeaten