CARL FRAMPTON INSISTS his only intention is to “silence the doubters” when he aims to end a five-and-a-half year war of words against Scott Quigg on Saturday night.

The rivals meet in a super-bantamweight world title unification clash in Manchester Arena, with Frampton defending his IBF crown while Quigg puts his WBA belt on the line having been controversially bumped up to the status of ‘full’ champion by the latter organisation.

Talk of a bout between the pair was ongoing since 2010, before promotional issues were finally overcome to deliver the much-anticipated contest and both fighters’ teams have traded barbs since the showdown was booked last November.

“People haven’t seen the best of me yet and any of the doubters, this is going to be the fight that makes them sit up and say: ‘Fuck me, Frampton can actually fight’,” said the IBF world champion.

[In] every single sparring session I’ve been trying different things out and I feel like I’ve been flying in the gym, and if I keep doing what I’m doing, it’s going to be an easy night.

“I had my last spar the other night and David Haye was in the gym; he described it that I was like a prime (Yuriorkis) Gamboa,” added Frampton, referring to the precocious Cuban talent.

The Belfast native dismissed the suggestion that he may be tempted to pursue an overly-aggressive strategy as he finally goes in against an opponent he has been keen to face for some five-and-a-half years, however.

“I don’t want to get carried away with the crowd and stuff, and the hype of the fight. If I’m clever in this fight, stay switched on and stick to the game-plan then it’s going to be one-sided, so that’s what I intend to do.

“I’m not going to get over-eager and do silly things, but if the chance comes I’ll take him out,” said the Belfast native, who appeared to rile Quigg recently when questioning the Bury man’s intelligence during a Sky Sports head-to-head programme.

Frampton claimed that it was not a calculated effort to upset his opponent, despite the fact that both fighters and their teams have engaged in a war of words throughout the build-up to the bout.

Carl Frampton Presseye / Ivan Pierre Aguirre/INPHO Presseye / Ivan Pierre Aguirre/INPHO / Ivan Pierre Aguirre/INPHO

“All I said was Quigg’s level of intelligence outside the ring reflects on how he fights inside the ring. He’s not a clever boxer, he can’t deal with different situations, he hasn’t really shown it in the past,” said Frampton. “I wasn’t really trying to wind him up, but I think it definitely annoyed him a little bit.”

Meanwhile, Frampton’s manager Barry McGuigan has insisted that he has no concerns over his protégé’s capability of making the 122lb super-bantamweight limit.

Frampton was twice dropped to the canvas before recovering to earn a points win over Mexican Alejandro Gonzalez Jr last July, with the Belfast native expressing a desire to move up in weight immediately after that fight.

“It was just too hot out in El Paso, he was drinking too much (water) after sessions, taking too much [weight] off and then drinking too much,” claimed McGuigan.

“This time, he’s been down on the weight a long time, the weight has been absolutely brilliant and he’s strong as a bull.”

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