Josh Warrington vs Carl Frampton: IBF champion retains title as Frampton ponders retirement
Follow latest reaction from the Manchester Arena
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Your support makes all the difference.Josh Warrington defeated Carl Frampton in one of the fights of the year, retaining his IBF featherweight championship and sending him on to greater things in an attempt to unify the division.
Leeds-born Warrington exploded out of the blocks in the very first round and nearly knocked Frampton down, with the former two-weight world champion only just surviving to the bell and suffering the same barrage in the second. Frampton recovered to make a fight of it in a scrap that developed into a classic, but Warrington proved a class above throughout and again nearly finished it in the 12th.
Re-live all the action here.
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Preview
When and where is the fight?
The bout will take place on December 22nd at the Manchester Arena, it was initially set to take place in a stadium but concerns over dates and mandatory challengers meant Warren settled with selecting an arena.
Ring walks will take place around 10pm but as always is the way with boxing, that is subject to change.
Where can I watch it?
It will be shown live on BT Sport Box Office, the broadcaster's second pay-per-view event of December following on from Deontay Wilder's world heavyweight title defence against Tyson Fury.
The cost of the box office event has yet to be announced but will likely be £19.95.
Can I stream online?
The fight will be shown on the BT Sport Box Office website and via the BT Sport Box Office app.
Who's going to win?
Josh Warrington 15/8
Carl Frampton 8/15
Draw 20/1
Murray vs N'DamRound four: Murray gets a knockdown right ont he bell! N'Dam takes an eight count as he returns to his corner, but he's shaking his head and complaining that it wasn't a valid knockdown. That late right hand gives Murray an important 10-8 though and a real catalyst to get into the fight.
Murray vs N'DamRound five: N'Dam looks steady on his legs in there and doesn't appear to be hurt from the knockdown, and he manages to see out th fifth pretty confortably in a round that has little of note in it.
Murray vs N'DamRound six: N'Dam is back to being the aggressor as he targets the body of Murray, and his work-rate in the final minute of the round could well be enough to rake it. Murray needs to find more in the tank to get N'Dam out of there, given that he has promised to retire if he suffers another defeat,
Murray vs N'DamRound seven: N'Dam gets away with a low shot that the referee didn't see, but it's the Frenchman who's doing all the work here and taking the fight to Murray. Unless the St Helens boxer can change the tide, he's heading for a defeat here regardless of the knockdown.
Murray vs N'DamRound eight: A good counter-left jab from Murray finds the target, and he's just starting to inleash a few more punches in the eight. N'Dam is still throwing the more punches by far, but a lot of his shots are being blocked on the gloves and arms of Murray. Even still, Murray is not winning this fight.
Murray vs N'DamRound nine: Murray starts the ninth a bit faster with a good uppercut, and he's trying to put N'Dam on the back foot which he has failed to do so in the opening eight rounds. Murray tries to throw a right hand but N'Dam counters well, and when the bell rings the two stare-off at each other before heading back to their corners.
Murray vs N'DamRound ten: N'Dam is making Murray miss with his impressive footwork, and this is really good work at this stage of the fight given he clearly knows he's ahead on the scorecard. Murray tries to up the tempo and throws a right hand through the guard that connects, but it's not enough to get him back in this.
Murray vs N'DamRound 11: Alarmingly Murray is not upping the intensity here when he needs to and you start to worry whether he really wants this. N'Dam gets a good left hand through the guard, and repeats it about 30 seconds later with Murray on the ropes. Murray goes for a big right and N'Dam just steps out of range with perfect timing. Murray needs a KO in the 12th.
Murray vs N'DamRound 12: The first minute of the final round passes by without anything of note, with Murray unable to connect with N'Dam as he dances his way in and out of range. This has been a really frustrating night for Murray and as N'Dam connects with another good uppercut, he has the look of a man that knows he's on his way to victory. Murray lands a good shot to the body and it slows Murray down, but the tank looks empty for Murray and the late flurry never comes. It goes to the judges, but I think I know where this is going...
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