Carl Frampton’s boxing career ended four years ago with a devastating title fight defeat.
The Northern-Irish fighter battled then-WBO junior-lightweight champion Jamel Herring in 2021 in a huge title match in Dubai.
Despite being a highly-ranked fighter at the time, Carl Frampton struggled against his American opponent. He was knocked down twice by a straight left and a big uppercut, respectively, before staggering to his feet in the sixth round.
Frampton suffered a flurry of punches which forced his corner to throw in the towel, ending the fight and his career in one fell swoop.
While there have been a number of boxers coming out of retirement for big money fights in recent years, Frampton has his mind already made up on retirement.
Carl Frampton says he won’t come back to fight again
Frampton has admitted that, while his final match did not go to plan, he does not plan to come out of retirement in the near future.
He says he won’t come back to boxing after losing his final fight, even if his goal to become a three-weight champion didn’t come to pass.
Speaking with The Stomping Ground, Frampton said:
“I got asked a question pretty much on a daily basis, like, ‘Do you miss boxing?’ and the answer is always no. I really don’t.
“I was probably looking out towards the end, but after the Jamel Herring fight—even if I had won that fight. I was retiring. That was the plan: to win it, be a three-weight world champion, and go out on a massive high.
“It didn’t work out like that. I got filled in and then retired anyway. But I don’t think I would have ever come back after that fight.”
The Northern Irishman retired in 2021 with a record of 28 wins and 3 losses, with 16 of those wins by knockout.
Frampton not following recent trend of big-money boxing returns
While Frampton has not been tempted by the chance of one last fight for a large pay check, numerous boxers have been.
Mike Tyson agreed to step back into the ring in 2020 for an exhibition fight with Roy Jones Jr. That fight ended in a draw, but encouraged Tyson to continue fights and led to a bout with YouTuber Jake Paul in 2024.
Floyd Mayweather is another fighter who has been convinced to come out of retirement for large sums of money.
His bouts with Connor McGregor and Logan Paul gained international interest, while Mayweather’s fight with Miguel Cotto earned him a huge payday.
Maybe if Frampton was offered the crazy money these boxers were given then he’d consider stepping into the ring one more time.