by David P. Greisman

Carl Frampton has drawn big crowds in Northern Ireland. He now wants to crossover, both figuratively and literally, by becoming a known commodity on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean in America.

The junior-featherweight titleholder will get his first chance on July 18, when he takes on Alejandro Gonzalez in the main event of a late afternoon/early evening “Premier Boxing Champions” card being shown from El Paso, Texas, on CBS in the United States and, similarly, on a broadcast network in the United Kingdom. This is Frampton’s first bout under adviser Al Haymon.

“I’m pretty well known in the UK and Ireland, but in the United States unless you’re a diehard boxing fan you won’t know who Carl Frampton is,” the 28-year-old said. “This is giving me a chance for a lot of exposure. Terrestrial television is a big deal. I think boxing has kind of been deprived. It’s a sport for the working-class, and working-class are not getting to see it because it’s been hidden away on satellite [premium] channels for so long. This is great not only for me but for boxing.”

Frampton’s promoter, Barry McGuigan, is himself an Irish fighter (albeit from the country of Ireland) who only appeared twice in the United States.

“The reality is Carl is a superstar in Britain and in Ireland. When you’re dead and buried, all they remember is what you’ve done stateside,” McGuigan said. “It’s a very important decision for us to come over here and try to be impressive and try and make a name for ourselves.”

Frampton is 20-0 with 14 KOs. He won his world title with a decision over Kiko Martinez in September and then defended it this past February with a stoppage of Chris Avalos.

Gonzalez, 22, is 25-1-2 with 15 KOs, with that lone loss coming by technical decision against Juan Alberto Rosas back in April 2104. Gonzalez has won three in a row since.

Their fight will be preceded by a bout between heavyweights Chris Arreola and Fred Kassi. The card is part of a day-night show, with a Showtime broadcast emanating from the same arena later that night and featuring Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. against Marcos Reyes.

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