Meanwhile, in a major upset, the previously undefeated Cecilia Braekhus lost her undisputed welterweight title to Jessica McCaskill
Carl Frampton stayed on course with his ambition to become the first Irishman to claim world titles in three weight divisions with a composed victory over game Scotsman Darren Traynor behind closed doors at the York Hall, Bethnal Green. Frampton a former two-weight world champion has his sights on a collision with World Boxing Organisation world super-featherweight champion Jamel Herring later this year.
Frampton dusted off the cobwebs in the early rounds, patiently breaking down Traynor before halting his rival one minute into the seventh round with a brutal left hook to the body, having put the fighter from Aberdeen down at the end of the sixth round with another cracking body shot.
“I was far from my best but the rounds will do me no harm. I’m happy with the win” said Frampton. “I know I’m going to need to be a lot better to beat Herring”, It must have been strange for Frampton, who commented on the atmosphere with an absence of fans, having headlined in packed arenas in New York, Las Vegas and his native Belfast several times.
“It was strange, a bit surreal, but once you’re in there with another guy throwing punches at you it didn’t matter” added Frampton, who controlled the bout with his jab and straight right once he had found his rhythm and timing.
WBO champion Herring, a former US Marine, defends his crown against Jonathan Oquendo on September 5 at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. Should the American triumph, promoter Frank Warren has set a November date for the showdown with Frampton.
The best set plans being made by promoter Eddie Hearn for Cecilia Braekhus to meet undefeated Irish boxer Katie Taylor in a women’s blockbuster contest were shattered in Tulsa, Oklahoma in the early hours of Sunday morning, when the previously undefeated Norwegian lost her undisputed welterweight title on a majority points decision to Jessica McCaskill, a major upset. Braekhus, known as ‘The First Lady’ of women’s boxing, hinted at retirement after losing for the first time in her 37-fight career, having been a reigning world champion for 11 years.
Braekhus had been chasing history in her 26th consecutive world title contest, with victory over McCaskill taking her past the 72-year-old record held by heavyweight Joe Louis, whose 25 world title defences in a row make him the longest reigning champion in boxing history. But McCaskill proved the busier fighter throughout to return a majority verdict on the judges cards, with Matchroom Boxing USA having set up the ring on a crossroads outdoors in the downtown area of the city in Oklahoma.
“I don’t want to talk about [retirement] right now” said Braekhus. “I want to congratulate Jessica, she really wanted it. I am proud and happy to pass the torch to her. Jessica just threw more punches and really, really wanted it. Take good care of those belts.” Braekhus added: “But I have to say, I am so proud to be part of women’s boxing right now. If this is my last fight, I am proud that I was part of taking women’s boxing to this level. That will be my biggest achievement.”
Taylor defeated McCaskill by unanimous points decision in a defence of her WBA lightweight title in December 2017, and it remains to be seen whether they will rematch each other immediately. Taylor defends her undisputed lightweight titles in a rematch with Belgian Delfine Persoon on Saturday night in Brentwood, Essex.