Super Bantamweight

Three-time world champion boxer Israel Vazquez died at age 46 after suffering from cancer, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman announced Tuesday, per ESPN.

"Israel Vazquez is finally resting in peace. May God give strength and support to his wife Laura, their children, family and friends during these difficult times...," Sulaiman posted on social media. "Thank you Israel for the so many great memories that you have given us through your actions inside the ring but most importantly outside of it. You are now eternal, rest in peace, everything will be all right."

The WBC announced in November that Vazquez was diagnosed with cancer, and a GoFundMe was set up to appeal for donations for his treatment.

Nicknamed "Magnifico," Vazquez was known for his speed and punching power. He held the IBF, WBC and The Ring super bantamweight titles over his 49-fight career, compiling a record of 44-5 with 32 knockouts on his way to becoming one of Mexico's most famed boxers.

Vazquez had a storied rivalry with fellow countryman Rafael Marquez, which they played out a series of four fights. They split the series 2-2, with Vazquez's loss to Marquez in May 2010 serving as the final professional fight of his career.

Legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach reacted to Vazquez's passing in a statement to Boxing Scene: "Forever a world champion and legend in boxing. One of the best boxers I ever had the privilege of working with—a world champion. Israel, my friend, may you rest in peace now. My condolences to the Vazquez family and to all those who called Israel their friend."

At the second attempt, Guillermo Rigondeaux will face fellow super bantamweight James "Jazza" Dickens. Unlike the first scheduled clash, however, Saturday's showdown sees a world title on the line.

The duo were set to meet back in March until Rigondeaux endured issues obtaining a visa during fight week.

The bout was scrapped at short notice, with Dickens (22-1, 7 KOs) facing Reynaldo Cajina instead. Now, though, he finally gets the chance to take on one of the best in the division.

There is also an added bonus for the re-arranged contest. Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KOs) has been restored as the WBA's "super" champion, having previously surrendered the belt because of his inactivity.

If you cannot watch the action unfold at Ice Arena Wales in Cardiff, join Bleacher Report's live blog from 8 p.m. BST (3 p.m. ET) on Saturday for updates on a bumper card in the Welsh capital.

     

When: Saturday, July 16, 10 p.m. BST (5 p.m. ET)

Where: Ice Arena Wales, Cardiff

TV: BoxNation (UK)

Live stream: BoxNation (UK)

     

Back to Work

We're live on air at 6pm this Saturday from Cardiff!

Rigondeaux v Dickens

Flanagan v Fana

Williams v Corcoran

🔥 pic.twitter.com/d89mzsN6QP

— Queensberry Promotions (@Queensberry) July 12, 2016

An outstanding technician with fast hands and sublime footwork, Rigondeaux sits at No. 5 in The Ring's pound-for-pound rankings.

The Cuban—who won two Olympic gold medals during a stellar amateur career—is a master of working on the counter, yet his silky skills have been something of a curse.

The American public tired of Rigondeaux's style. With television networks no longer interested on one side of the Atlantic Ocean, the 35-year-old agreed to travel to Britain.

The decision to travel has also been necessary to find a willing opponent. Rigondeaux said at the final press conference in Cardiff:

I would like to show my respect and gratitude to Dickens for having the courage to take this fight.

Dickens is the only [junior featherweight] in the world that has the guts to step in the ring with me. All of the others like to talk and talk but they don't have the courage to actually fight. They know where to find me. I'm here and I'm ready to face anyone in the world. I'm quicker than FedEx and better than UPS.

Rigondeaux is back in possession of the WBA title after previous holder Carl Frampton moved up to featherweight—the Northern Irishman is set to fight Leo Santa Cruz on July 30.

Despite only fighting once since December 2014—he defeated Drian Francisco on points in a forgettable 10-rounder last November—the Jackal will be keen to impress a new audience.

British boxing fans should also make the most of the chance to see a master at work.

     

Patience Pays Off

Good things come to those who wait, and Dickens' patience has paid off with a shot at a world title.

The Englishman was ready for the biggest fight of his career in his home city of Liverpool in March, only for Rigondeaux to be a healthy scratch at the eleventh hour.

Having trained in Russia while his visa application was being processed, Rigondeaux suddenly opted to return to his adopted home in Miami, per Mitch Abramson of The Ring.

Having initially thought the chance had passed him by, Dickens is delighted the bout has been rescheduled.

Jazza also believes facing Rigondeaux will bring out the best in him, as he told BoxNation: "I’ll listen to my coaches and get my hand raised at the end of the night. I’m going to box out of my skin, I know there’s more in me—that’s why I took this fight if there’s anyone to bring it out of me I know it’s him."

British champion Dickens' only career defeat came against Kid Galahad in 2013.

However, his former foe believes the underdog—Dickens is a 12-1 shot, according to Odds Shark—can cause a shock.

Galahad told Boxing News: "Rigondeaux’s 35 years old now, and he hasn’t been very active recently. It’s possible that time has caught up with him, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Jazza pulls off the upset."

Dickens will hope Father Time gives him a helping hand on Saturday, but the rest is down to him.

At least this time he knows Rigondeaux will make it to the ring.

     

Prediction

How does Dickens approach such a tough task? If he chooses to be aggressive, he rather plays into Rigondeaux's hands. However, sit back and it's hard to see him outworking the champion.

The answer lies somewhere in the middle. Dickens has to pick his moments to apply pressure, albeit knowing he will have to take a few shots to land one or two of his own.

Rigondeaux's rustiness could lead to an interesting start to proceedings, but the Jackal will have the last laugh.

While Dickens will give it everything, he will be stopped in the closing rounds.

Spare a thought for the poor soul who ends up facing Kid Galahad in his comeback bout.

The unbeaten super bantamweight is eligible to box again from March 20, having had his two-year doping ban shortened by six months by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) thanks to the efforts of his barrister, Dan Foster.

For Galahad (18-0, 9 KOs), there is finally a fight at the end of the tunnel—and he is "buzzing" to get back in the ring again.

His wants to make up for lost time, too, as he resumes his quest for a world-title shot: "I’m firing on all cylinders.

"I’m ready to pick back up where I left off. I’m ready to pick straight back up.

"I’ve been training very hard. The 18 months that have gone by, I haven’t let them go to waste. I’ve been improving and working on things.

"I’ve won the British, the European and the Commonwealth [belts]. Those titles don’t really mean anything to me now. I want to get back in the mix and win a world title.

"There’s only one dangerous kid who would give me a good fight in the super bantamweight division, and that’s [Guillermo] Rigondeaux. I honestly believe I would beat the rest."

The 26-year-old's highly promising career came to a sudden halt when he tested positive for Stanozolol in September 2014.

He proclaimed his innocence, insisting the failed test was down to a spiked protein drink. His brother, Mageed, provided a signed affidavit to support Galahad's testimony, per George Gigney of Boxing News.

But, while he left it down to the law experts to try to clear his name, the Doha-born boxer, who now calls the city of Sheffield in England home, could only wait to find out when he would be able to go back to work. 

When his appeal against the initial UKAD decision failed, it would have been easy to lose focus, to let himself go and stop caring as much.

His trainer, Dominic Ingle, told Galahad he had to make a choice: "When it came out, we were both shocked. You just don’t expect those things to happen.

"Then, when the dust had settled, I told him he had two ways to deal with it.

"He could either pack up boxing, or carry on with your training and wait for the time to expire. He needed to carry on preparing as if he was going to fight, meaning mini training camps and watching his weight."

Ingle knew exactly what Galahad—whose real name is Abdul Barry Awad—would do: "He kept himself active, and, most importantly, kept on believing."

The famous Wincobank gym in a suburb of Sheffield was led by legendary trainer Brendan Ingle before his son, Dominic, took over the reins.

The site has been a key factor in Galahad's life. The building—an old church hall that welcomes all-comers, no matter your age or ability—not to forget the people inside it, helped change the course of his life.

"If it wasn’t for boxing, I would have been either in prison for a very long time, or very, very rich from doing crime. Boxing kept me out of trouble," he admits.

Dominic added: "He [Galahad] loves boxing. He’s not one of these kids who only trains for fights—he’s lived in the gym since he was 14 years old. He’s put a lot of time and effort into it [his career].

"The only thing that has been lost is time. But, that can quickly be made up because of the way he lives and the way he trains."

Galahad is part of a close-knit family of fighters inside the gym that includes reigning IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook.

However, there is no pecking order in place. There is no extra space given up to egos either, simply because there's not enough room in the building to accommodate them. In the early evenings, it is a bustling hive of activity as boxers, both young and old, go through their workouts.

"Someone asked me the other day if I ever got jealous when Kell was fighting. That has never been the case," Galahad said.

"Kell has been training for 20 years. Anyone who does anything for that long deserves to be at the top of the game. You cannot take any credit away from them.

"I’m not a kid. I don’t get bitter, or jealous, of other people.

"Everyone tries to help everyone in the gym. I’ve sparred with little kids who’ve never had a fight before, and I've sparred with world champions. You can learn off everyone."

While his focus is now firmly on the future, Galahad understands some will always be quick to remind him of the past.

"Everyone is going to have an opinion," he said.

"Look at [Floyd] Mayweather. Some people think he is the best boxer there has ever been, while some people say he’s never boxed anyone.

"Everyone is entitled to an opinion. That’s how it is. I know what I’m capable of doing, and that’s all that really matters.

"I never once [thought about quitting boxing]. I’m a mentally strong person. Sometimes in life there are obstacles—you have to get on with it. You cannot let things break you."

Ingle knows some will always be quick to remind Galahad of his failed test: "People are going to turn around and say he was a drugs cheat, but I don’t believe that for one minute.

"People will make their opinions. There is a lot of misinformation out there. Nobody is getting the full story, so they’re getting things mixed up. 

"But people are not particularly bothered about looking at the facts."

The fact is, after the efforts of barrister Foster—someone Ingle admits never stopped "plugging away" with the case—Galahad is free to fight again.

He has stepped up his preparations for a comeback with sparring sessions with James "Jazza" Dickens—a man he defeated to win the vacant British title in 2013—and IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby.

World Class Sparring session this morning @IngleGym @SpecialKBrook @leeselby126 @KidGalahad90 @andrewselby1 pic.twitter.com/su8Q8yURmm

— Jamie Sanigar (@JamieSanigar) March 16, 2016

Ingle doesn't expect there will be a problem with ring rust: "I think he will come back at the same level we last saw him at. He’s always been determined, but now he realises what can go wrong."

Galahad—who has no promotional deal in place, insisting he will "go where the opportunities are"—hopes to be busy in the rest of 2016.

"Hopefully this year I can get three fights in," he said.

"I cannot wait. It’s been a very, very long time [out]. I’ve missed the ring—I cannot wait to get in there and perform."

The wait is nearly over. He has lost time and money during the enforced absence, perhaps also the respect of some inside the industry, but the comeback Kid certainly has not lost any confidence.

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand, unless otherwise stated.

Before facing Jorge Sanchez, Gavin McDonnell said at the pre-fight press conference: "I’ve been in my brother’s shadow—it is time for me to step out."

On Saturday, by beating Sanchez, Gavin continued to emerge from behind his twin sibling Jamie, a two-time world champion at bantamweight who currently holds the WBA belt.

Super bantamweight Gavin would like one to match, and he took another step towards achieving that goal—and stepping out of his brother's shadow—by picking up the WBC Silver title in Manchester, England.

The shorter Sanchez was game throughout the contest and even landed a right hand in the closing minute of Round 3 that seemed to briefly stun his opponent.

However, it proved to be a fleeting moment of success in an otherwise difficult first fight overseas for the Panamanian.

Helped by a flash knockdown in Round 2, the bright and busy McDonnell won by a distance on the scorecards. Behind The Gloves tweeted the final verdict from the officials: 

https://twitter.com/BehindTheGloves/status/703706024973357056

In extending his pro record to 15-0-2 (4 KOs), McDonnell showed again how he is continuing to develop under the stewardship of trainer Dave Coldwell.

More importantly for his career prospects, the bout was an official eliminator. He is now on the brink of a world-title fight, moving him ever closer to achieving his goal.

McDonnell simply won’t rest until he is a world champion. This isn’t about fulfilling a lifelong destiny; it's about making sure brother Jamie cannot claim bragging rights over him once they've both retired.

Gavin told Sky Sports after the win over Sanchez (h/t Andy Charles of SkySports.com): "Hopefully this year we can go out and get a world title. I won't stop until I outdo him—there is no way I am retiring as No. 2."

Luv this photo. Can remember wen all the belts belonged to @JamieMcdonnell1 now I'm picking up my own #teammac 👊 pic.twitter.com/fteunMecim

— Gavin Mcdonnell (@bigtwinnygav) March 2, 2016

Jamie was ringside at the Manchester Arena to see his brother get the better of Sanchez. Spare a second for the poor soul who had to sit behind him too, as a world champion bouncing up from his chair often blocked their view.

The brotherly love briefly goes on hold when the pair spar with each other at Coldwell’s gym, but Jamie’s success in his own career has helped to motivate his twin.

In May 2014, Gavin drew with Josh Wale when defending the British title in Leeds, England. Later that same month, he was cheering on his twin as he picked up the vacant WBA strap at Wembley Stadium in London.

Now, less than two years on, Gavin is closing in on his chance at world glory.

He has already become European champion at 122 pounds, mainly through sheer hard work and a willingness to listen.

With each fight that passes there are signs of technical improvement, as recognised by Tony Bellew—who trains alongside the twins in Doncaster, England—on Twitter:

So happy for @bigtwinnygav tonight! I'm not being at all biased when I say he's the most improved fighter in the country IMO! #Quality 👊💥👊

— Tony Bellew (@TonyBellew) February 28, 2016

There is nothing flash about the way McDonnell works. His height (BoxRec doesn't have his size on his profile, but Jamie is listed at 5′10″) allows him to fight from a distance, but he's never afraid to work on the inside. Crucially, he is an eager learner with Coldwell and always in excellent physical shape.

McDonnell’s knockout ratio of 24 per cent shows he’s not a big hitter, but any opponent facing him should be prepared for a long, hard battle. Even the Energizer Bunny might find it hard to keep up with Gavin.

Jamie fights in a similar way—although, his knockout ratio is 40 per cent—but for different reasons. While he is purely in it for the money, Gavin holds a genuine interest in the sport.

Coldwell confirmed as much when praising his fighter at the media session ahead of the bout with Sanchez: "Each step that Gavin has taken has raised eyebrows. But he keeps going in there and doing the job.

"He may not be naturally the most talented, but you can’t find someone who can give anymore.

"Gavin knows everything about boxing. For him to become European champion was massive, but his ultimate dream is to join his brother and become a world champion.”

The ultimate dream for McDonnell is a step closer to becoming a reality after the convincing win over Sanchez.

He now has a silver title in his possession. However, what he really wants is something in gold, just like his brother.

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes were obtained firsthand, unless otherwise stated.

There was a pained expression on Scott Quigg’s face in the immediate aftermath to his points loss to Carl Frampton in Manchester, England, on Saturday.

It could have been a look of agony, considering he suffered a broken jaw in Round 4 of the unification clash between Britain’s top two super bantamweights.

Yet Quigg, who had never previously lost in 33 professional bouts, had dealt with the issue—and fought on through the throbbing soreness—for eight whole rounds.

The look of hurt was more because, after all his preparations, plans and pre-fight predictions, the Englishman had come up short in the biggest fight of his career to date. In all honesty, he barely turned up.

Quigg was understandably disappointed at the defeat.

The 29-year-old has dedicated his life to boxing, including putting in an unusual request to be expelled from school so he could get on with his chosen career, per Martin Domin for MailOnline. He has rarely been out of the gym since leaving education.

Frampton was the foe he always seemed set to face at some stage, too.

When the contract was finally signed and the date was set for February 27, 2016, Quigg told Matchroom Boxing: "This is the fight I wanted and it was a great feeling when I signed on the dotted line. The day I signed was my Christmas because I’ll be in the gym on December 25."

The head-to-head could have happened much earlier in their careers. But, by waiting, the pair managed to make it the biggest, and most profitable, fight possible.

In the buildup, Quigg tried to land some psychological blows. In Sky Sports’ The Gloves Are Off show, he quizzed his rival about a tricky sparring session in Scotland, claiming Frampton had been knocked down.

Sadly, when the bell sounded, Quigg seemed reticent to land any actual blows.

For the first half of the fight, the local boy (he is from Bury, a town in Greater Manchester) looked unwilling to do anything but defend.

Per CompuBox stats (h/t BoxingScene.com), he landed 11 punches over the first 18 minutes. Frampton was hardly fluent—he connected on 21 occasions over the same period of time—but was at least busy.

The jab—a key part of Quigg’s armoury—was successful on a grand total of 12 occasions over the entire duration of the contest. That’s a measly average of one per round—you don’t need to be Archimedes to work that out.

Finally, in Round 11, we got to see the Scott Quigg we expected. Marching forward, he landed 20 punches, all of them power shots, according to CompuBox.

There was one right hand in particular that caught Frampton’s attention in a big way. The Northern Irishman held on as he was twisted around, having taken the initial shot flush on the side of his face.

It was too little, too late, however. Frampton survived Round 12 comfortably, boxing off the back foot as he remained out of range, and went on to earn a split-decision verdict. Surprisingly, one judge (Levi Martinez) scored it 115-113 to the loser.

Quigg’s trainer, Joe Gallagher, wasn't impressed by two officials scoring it 116-112 to Frampton. He told Sky Sports in the aftermath (h/t Isaac Robinson of SkySports.com): "After four rounds, I had it level. I thought Scott was taking most of the shots on the gloves and being patient, making Carl overreach."

Over those four "level" rounds, Quigg hit the target with six punches. They would have to be half-a-dozen crackers to keep any fighter level.

Respected boxing journalist Steve Bunce of the Independent wrote on the Monday after the fight: "Gallagher thought it was close after five rounds, which shows just how blind the most celebrated of boxing people can be. It was not close, it was a tactical massacre."

Maybe Quigg froze on the big occasion—the atmosphere at the Manchester Arena, aided by the presence of so many Frampton supporters, was something he had not experienced before.

Maybe Quigg simply stuck to the instructions given to him by his team and therefore was badly advised by those he trusts in his corner.

Maybe Quigg was bothered by the broken jaw more than we know and only wanted to risk it once he realised there was nothing to lose.

While the former British champion would normally be straight back in the gym, he’s instead resting up following surgery, as confirmed by his promoter, Eddie Hearn, on Twitter.

Thoughts with @scottquigg currently undergoing surgery on broken jaw..you will be back stronger! pic.twitter.com/93dMBTKHnO

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 28, 2016

Prior to the fight, per Boxing News, Quigg had revealed how the desire to avoid defeat motivated him: "The fear of losing, I have said it all along. Nobody wants to get up at this time and get out of bed, the body is not built for that. But for some reason, I can spring out of bed because the fear of failure and fear of losing is what drives me on and that is why I do what I do and I love what I do."

Well, now he knows what it feels like to lose.

Rather than drown in self-pity, Quigg must reflect on what went wrong on the night and, most importantly of all, work out what he needs to do in the future.

A rematch with Frampton could yet happen, but there is no need to be hung up over a second fight with his British foe. Quigg could instead swoop back in and get a shot at the IBF and WBA belts, if the Jackal vacates the titles to move up to featherweight.

Shingo Wake is Frampton’s mandatory challenger for the IBF super bantamweight title.

Hearn, however, believes that is a possible route for Quigg to explore on his return, per James Robson of the Manchester Evening News: "The first thing I will do is speak to the IBF and say if he does not want to fight Shingo Wake, we want to fight him for the IBF title."

Quigg should have few concerns about facing the Japanese fighter. Wake has a 20-4-2 (12 KOs) record but has never boxed outside of his homeland.

The WBA strap would be a tougher target, simply because Guillermo Rigondeaux is waiting for a chance to win back a belt that was taken away from him by the authorities outside of the ring due to inactivity.

The unbeaten Cuban is a classy operator whose long amateur career has left him with a fine defensive technique and an ability to counter anything that comes his way.

Tread carefully, though, before choosing to go down a path that includes a considerable road block by the name of Rigondeaux. After the Jackal, El Chacal would be an even tougher challenge to take on.

As for the other governing bodies, Hugo Ruiz and Nonito Donaire hold the WBC and WBO straps respectively.

Quigg doesn’t need to drop back to domestic or European level, but he can also ill-afford a second successive defeat. Former WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns is a good example of a Brit who lost his way after losing his crown and is still now working his way back towards the big fights he craves.

But, at 27 years of age, time is on his side.

He now knows the bitter taste that follows a defeat. Having experienced the big time, having topped the bill on a pay-per-view card in a unification fight, nothing should come as a surprise to him any more.

Once his broken jaw is healed, you can be sure Quigg will work as hard as physically possible to make sure he doesn't have to deal with the disappointment of losing again.

Follow @RobLancs79

It didn’t quite live up to the pre-fight hype, but Carl Frampton doesn't really care. In beating Scott Quigg on points, The Jackal unified the IBF and WBA titles in the super bantamweight division.

Saturday’s bout between the British rivals at the Manchester Arena in Manchester, England, was cagey (at least that’s one word for it) for the most part.

There were still moments of excitement in a slow-burning contest, most notably in Round 11 when Quigg looked to give himself renewed hope of victory.

However, Frampton—who must have felt he was back home in Belfast, considering the support he received inside the venue—earned a split-decision victory from the judges. FightNews.com tweeted the scores:

Scores were 115-113 Quigg, 116-112 twice for Frampton.

— fightnews.com (@fightnews) February 27, 2016

Here, Bleacher Report breaks down some of the key talking points from the action.

The Late Starter

What if Quigg hadn’t been so cautious in the opening half of the fight? Such a question can haunt a professional sportsman—losing is one thing, but losing with doubts over your performance can burn indelible marks in your mind.

It would be wrong to say that the Englishman should have been just been as aggressive at the start of the contest as he was at the end, because that could easily have got him into trouble.

Frampton is a tremendous counterpuncher, and a reckless approach might have seen Quigg walk right onto a big punch before he had barely warmed up.

He was also hampered by a broken jaw, an injury he suffered when caught by an uppercut in Round 4. Promoter Eddie Hearn tweeted a picture on Sunday to reveal the extent of the damage: 

Thoughts with @scottquigg currently undergoing surgery on broken jaw..you will be back stronger! pic.twitter.com/93dMBTKHnO

— Eddie Hearn (@EddieHearn) February 28, 2016

But, while a cautious approach was understandable early on, Quigg—the taller of the two at 5’8”, with Frampton standing 5’5”—could have at least tried to establish his jab.

Instead, his tactics of holding a high guard and focusing on his defences allowed his rival to open up an early lead on the cards that proved crucial in the final reckoning. Frampton was not at his fluent best, yet he didn't need to be. He won rounds simply by being the clear aggressor.

Per Isaac Robinson of Sky Sports, Quigg said in the immediate aftermath: "I thought it was going to plan. I thought it was even after four. I felt comfortable in there."

Others in the boxing industry did not see it the same way, judging by the reaction on Twitter:

Frampton deserved the nod but Quigg narrowed the gap late on. He will rue that over cautious start. Frampton had too many rounds in the bank

— Boxing Monthly (@BoxingMonthlyED) February 27, 2016

Quigg slow start cost him big time there! Exactly how I had it 116-112

— Matthew Hatton (@MagicMattHatton) February 27, 2016

Would have liked to see Quigg like that from the start high guard plenty of head movement walking Framton down working the body

— Luke Campbell MBE (@luke11campbell) February 27, 2016

Quigg showed how he could cause his opponent problems in the closing quarter, particularly in Round 11 (more on that to come).

Able to dominate physically, he sapped Frampton at times with excellent body punching. When he watches the fight back, he may wonder why he didn’t try throwing a few earlier. And the jab, that most basic of weapon that he seemingly left back at his home in nearby Bury, would have really helped his cause.

Those thoughts will linger longer than the pain from the broken jaw. He can only hope to get a shot at redemption against Frampton somewhere down the line.

Boring, Boring Frampton

"I knew it was going to be a boring fight. I knew I had the brain today to do that and make it boring." According to Isaac Robinson of Sky Sports, Frampton never expected a thriller. Perhaps he might have warned all those who forked out to watch the fight beforehand.

The 29-year-old had not gone through a 17-week training camp—which included spending long periods of time away from his young family—to throw caution to the wind.

He was not about to risk what he had worked so hard to achieve just to entertain the masses.

Quigg was caught out by Frampton's controlled opening, believing his foe would rather start fast and look to dominate, per Boxing Monthly:

Quigg: "I was expecting to be under cosh in first half of the fight." Hearn: "Frampton didn't want to engage early and that won him rounds"

— Boxing Monthly (@BoxingMonthlyED) February 28, 2016

Instead, Frampton played the waiting game. Carrying his left hand purposely low, he beckoned Quigg in with the lure of landing on an exposed chin.

When the Englishman showed no intention of taking the bait, ruling out the chance of throwing any sort of countermeasure, Frampton chose to pick his moments to go on the offensive. He used feints and an extended left arm to test the water and then reacted accordingly.

This wasn’t the same fighter who systematically destroyed Chris Avalos less than one year ago, but then this wasn’t an opponent who could be picked off with ease.

The softly-softly approach allowed Frampton to build a lead on the cards. While Quigg closed the gap in the later stages, it was not enough to convince two of the three judges at ringside.

Judge for Yourself

Speaking of judges, the Frampton team had pushed for the use of overseas officials to avoid any potential controversy over the scoring.

There was one British referee in the end—Dave Parris scored the bout 116-112 for Frampton.

However, Levi Martinez—one of two Americans on duty—ended up calculating Quigg as the winner by two points. Bleacher Report's Kevin McRae was not impressed:

Levi Martinez can get right the hell out of here with 115-113 for Quigg. #FramptonQuigg

— 🖤❤️💛KPM❤️🤍❤️ (@KPMWrites) February 27, 2016

Not everyone sees a fight the same, of course. And, in defence of Martinez, the opening few rounds were particularly tough to score. 

But, Martinez's card ended up being like one of those magic-eye pictures—stare at the scores for a while and you might just start to make sense of it. Of course, you may also never work it out, no matter how long you gaze at it.

Round 11

For three minutes in Round 11, the audience got the fight they longed to see.

Quigg set the tone by landing two jabs and a left-right combination inside the opening 15 seconds. He then found success by ducking low and taking aim at Frampton's body.

A pair of right hooks just under the ribs saw Frampton flash a look to his corner, but it was a right hand to the chin with 27 seconds to go that caused the IBF champion's one moment of real distress.

He grabbed and held his rival’s left hand as he was spun around, yet he still took a right uppercut.

But, just as the two were split apart and ready to fight on, referee Ernie Sharif needlessly stepped in and told Quigg off for pushing down (the official overlooked the two hooks to the back of Frampton's head while they were tangled together, though). The break gave Frampton some vital breathing space.

As the round came to an end, promoter Hearn was seen on the television coverage standing up from his seat and, with his arms outstretched, imploring Quigg to go on the offensive.

Yet it was too late. The bell sounded before Quigg could land another meaningful punch. The window of opportunity that suddenly opened up had now quickly closed again.

Frampton made sure he wasn't caught in Round 12, boxing cleverly on the retreat to safely reach the final bell.

However, for three minutes, perhaps only really 27 seconds, the tactical battle slipped into a brawl. It was brilliant to watch, too.

What Next?

Considering the Manchester Arena was sold out (and in a hurry, according to the Belfast Telegraph), and taking into account the revenue from pay-per-view television, a rematch would make sound financial sense.

Quigg would certainly like another opportunity at Frampton—and would be willing to travel to his rival’s home city of Belfast to get it. Ring TV's Douglass Fischer tweeted:

Quigg says he respects Frampton, and adds that he's willing to do a rematch in Belfast. "We can't make as much money fighting anyone else"

— Douglass Fischer (@dougiefischer) February 28, 2016

Frampton didn't rule out the possibility of a second fight with Quigg, although he also hinted at exploring other options. Per Ben Dirs of BBC Sport, he said: "If I have to have a rematch and the public demands it, no problem. But I'd rather move on to bigger and better things. The world's our oyster."

He has a plethora of different options open to him.

A fight between Frampton and Guillermo Rigondeaux may appeal to some boxing fans, but the classy Cuban is not a major draw for television (HBO and Top Rank turned their back on him, according to Bleacher Report's Kelsey McCarson) and therefore offers little reward for such a huge risk.

And, if you thought Frampton-Quigg was a slow burner, Frampton-Rigondeaux could well be the equivalent of trying to light a damp firework—plenty of promise but lacking any real spark.

Frampton has previously stated the possibility of making a move up to featherweight.

He hinted at the switch after his below-par win over Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. in 2015, telling ITV Sport (h/t the Guardian): "I have to seriously consider whether to stay at this weight or go to featherweight. I had a lot of weight to take off during the last few days before the fight."

The Jackal made sure he had no issues on the scales for the Quigg bout thanks to a long, gruelling training camp. But, at some stage in his career, climbing into the 126-pound division would benefit his body.

Leo Santa Cruz would be a popular choice for his next opponent.

The Mexican—a former super bantamweight world champion who is now campaigning at feather—retained his WBA title with a KO victory over Kiko Martinez (that's former Frampton foe Kiko Martinez) on Saturday in California.

.@leosantacruz2 remains undefeated in his first featherweight title defense via TKO in round 5 #SantaCruzMartinez https://t.co/JRkyfmwnjJ

— All the Smoke Fight (@ats_fight) February 28, 2016

Best of the Rest

Much like the main event, the undercard at the Manchester Arena was a little underwhelming.

Gavin McDonnell was the chief support, and the super bantamweight kept his hopes of following in the footsteps of twin brother Jamie, a two-time world champion at bantamweight, by recording a unanimous-decision win over Jorge Sanchez from Panama.

There were early finishes for two of Tyson Fury’s relatives too, as his cousins—Hosea Burton and Isaac Lowe—triumphed inside the distance.

Burton claimed the vacant British light heavyweight title by stopping Miles Shinkwin in Round 6. Lowe, meanwhile, is now the Commonwealth champion at featherweight after recording a TKO win over Marco McCullough.

Fury was at ringside to watch the pair but didn’t stick around for the main event:

Tyson Fury blasts #FramptonQuigg for being an “absolute b******s fight” https://t.co/iiKGBXXkwy pic.twitter.com/n9SxXeHHjQ

— B/R Football (@brfootball) February 28, 2016

Frampton-Quigg wasn't quite the all-action showdown that Fury, and many others, wanted to see, but it was still another example of why British boxing is enjoying such a boom period. Long may the good times continue.

Carl Frampton unified the IBF and WBA super bantamweight titles after beating British rival Scott Quigg by a majority-points decision in Manchester, England.

The Jackal was deemed the winner by two of the judges, both officials scoring the bout 116-112 in his favour. The other, meanwhile, had it 115-113 in favour of Quigg.

Victory extends the Northern Irishman's perfect record to 22-0 (14 KOs). However, he had to weather a tricky Round 11 to continue his unbeaten streak as a pro.

Quigg, meanwhile, paid the price for a slow start at the Manchester Arena. His first defeat leaves him with a 31-1-2 (23 KOs) record—and without a world title in his possession.

You can catch up with what happened in the main event with the aid of Bleacher Report's blog:

After the phoney war, Carl Frampton and Scott Quigg are finally set to do battle on Saturday night in Manchester, England.

The much-anticipated unification clash between the two super bantamweight world champions has been a long time in the making.

Frampton—the IBF champion—and Quigg, who holds the WBA belt, have been strongly linked yet somehow stayed apart on their respective paths to the top of the 122-pound division.

This all-British fight could have happened much sooner. Thankfully, for whatever reason, they didn't rush it. As Frampton told Sky Sports: "It's the only real rivalry I've had in my career. Five years brewing and it's getting better."

The brewing process has threatened to boil over at times during a prolonged buildup.

The pre-fight games both teams played have been less of the standard seen on The Krypton Factor and more suited to what you'd see in a primary-school playground. There's been name-calling, leaked stories and stubbornness of the very highest order.

A three-city promotional tour spread over three days in November 2015 set the tone.

As Paul Gibson detailed in the Guardian (WARNING: Linked article contains language NSFW), the trip got off to a relatively sedate start in London.

In Manchester, though, things began to heat up. Gibson noted: "They say familiarity breeds contempt, but it only took one press conference for the two teams to be sick of the sight of each other."

Joe Gallagher, Quigg's trainer, referenced the defeat Barry McGuigan suffered in the city at the hands of Jim McDonnell—a result that led to The Clones Cyclone hanging up his gloves. The response from Frampton's manager was to call Gallagher a "nonsense eejit," per Joe O'Neill of Irish-Boxing.com.

On the final day in Belfast, where a vocal crowd assembled to show their support for local boy Frampton, there was a pantomime feel to proceedings.

The perceived villains from England were roundly booed, with Eddie Hearn portrayed as the evil ogre.

The promoter smiled his way through it, suggesting there was no hangover from the four pints of "banter juice" he had enjoyed prior to the presser at the Manchester Arena the previous day.

Hearn used to be in Frampton's corner, and once said in an interview with Sky Sports in 2012 (h/t Sporting Life) that Quigg—then promoted by Ricky Hatton—didn't want a fight with The Jackal.

Now he has helped broker the deal on Quigg's behalf. Boxing is a business after all.

The Bury-born boxer normally lets his performances do the talking, yet on the press tour he was not only willing to engage with his rival but also happy to fire the opening shots.

He continued to go on the attack when the two went head-to-head on Sky Sports' The Gloves Are Off show. During the broadcast, Quigg stated how he had heard Frampton had previously been knocked out in a sparring session in Scotland during the early stages of his career—a claim his opponent denied.

Carl Frampton vs Scott Quigg: The Gloves Are Off https://t.co/TooZveW7bi

— Johnny (@SkyJohnnyNelson) February 25, 2016

Johnny Nelson—a former world champion—was the presenter perched in between the two on the show.

It was not his first rodeo in terms of a televised head-to-head with the main protagonists in a big fight, but the Frampton-Quigg episode was different to those he had hosted in the past.

"It was one of those ones where I found it very difficult to read. Usually, you can read into it and work out who has the upper hand," Nelson said.

"Carl had the intention of keeping himself under control. Scott was calm; he was focused. He knew what he wanted to say and do, and that’s how it played out.

"It’s nothing personal. It’s professional. When it comes to this, you’ve got two fighters who will give it their all."

Quigg was not so calm when it came to the final press event, staged in Manchester.

A squabble over who would use the home dressing room left both refusing to budge. Quigg claimed he was on home turf, so therefore he should have use of the facility. Frampton, however, argued he was the one topping the bill, so he deserved the star's spot.

When his rival adamantly insisted he would be changing in there, the Northern Irishman reacted by playing Stevie Wonder's "Superstitious" down his microphone. If points had been awarded to decide a winner in the argument, Frampton's musical interlude would have seen him earn top marks.

Nelson labelled it all a "storm in a tea cup." The session ended with a lengthy staring competition and a little pushing. It never threatened to escalate any further, but was a sign of the tension on stage.

After the weigh-in on Friday, Quigg revealed to Sky Sports, he could even choose to get changed at home. Others in boxing, however, were more interested in his physical state:

Quigg looks like he's cut serious weight since yesterday and frampton looked fresh , this is why boxing is the best sport in the world

— derry mathews (@derrymathews23) February 26, 2016

Quigg looks slightly drawn, I'm surprised. 😳

— Alex Arthur AAA 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿 (@AlexArthur1) February 26, 2016

Frampton—who had told ITV Sport after his points win over Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. in Texas that he could move up to featherweight (h/t the Guardian)—had no issue making weight.

But, just by stripping down to their underpants, the pair had allowed the watching audience to draw an opinion on their physical condition.

There was no altercation between the fighters in the final head-to-head—Frampton even showed some love by blowing a kiss. However, trainers Gallagher and McGuigan had already added a little drama to proceedings with a brief confrontation (h/t Sky Sports News HQ):

WATCH: "It's kicking off here!" Follow the weigh-in for @RealCFrampton v @scottquigg here: https://t.co/5kS9KYSEbT https://t.co/817KyxuNLF

— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) February 26, 2016

All the words won't matter when it gets down to the actual fight, but there is method to the madness.

Tyson Fury, for example, did everything possible to upset Wladimir Klitschko's rhythm before their heavyweight title fight in Dusseldorf, Germany, in November 2015.

He kicked up a fuss about the state of the ring at the Esprit Arena, insisting a layer of foam was removed or else the bout was off.

Then there was the incident over Klitschko's hands being wrapped without one of Fury's team being present, resulting in the job having to be done all over again.

Klitschko—a man who likes to call the shots—had been pushed out of his comfort zone. Whether the pre-fight issues had a bearing on his no-show in the ring, only he knows.

But, Lennox Lewis— a boxer who knows all about the pressures of dealing with the big occasion—certainly thought they played a part in Fury's victory, according to David Anderson of the Mirror.

Sportsmen at the very highest level are fine-tuned machines. They are pushed to the limits during training, all while having to watch what they eat. Their preparation is worked out to the finest detail—throw a spanner in the works at any stage and suddenly they don't perform to their full potential.

Therefore, you are right to do whatever you can to get your rivals to take their eye off the ball, even if it is over something trivial.

Nelson admitted as much: "The issue has become bigger than it actually is. If someone is obsessed about a dressing room, they can end up taking their eye off the ball."

Both Frampton and Quigg will claim victory in their phoney war.

However, as Nelson rightly said: "It's about getting the edge, but all this stuff will pale into insignificance once the bell goes."

When that bell rings at around 10:45 p.m. GMT (5:45 p.m. ET) on Saturday, the only battle that really matters will finally be underway.

Rob Lancaster is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. All quotes used in the article were obtained firsthand, unless otherwise stated.