By Kurt Ward

Barry McGuigan, manager and promoter of IBF super bantamweight title-holder Carl Frampton, was jubilant in the ring a fortnight ago following his man’s impressive fifth round stoppage over mandatory challenger Chris Avalos in front of an incredibly noisy Belfast crowd.

Barry told the millions watching on terrestrial television channel ITV that his man was the best super bantamweight in the world.  Even better than the brilliant undefeated Cuban, Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Now based in Miami, Rigondeaux holds three belts; he is widely recognised as one of the best fighters in the sport today, and is the man to beat at 122lbs.  Irish manager of Rigondeaux, Gary Hyde, was impressed by Frampton’s performance but not by McGuigan’s comments.

“It was a very good performance,” said Hyde when speaking to the Nuthouse Podcast team.  “Frampton was excellent and I’d like to congratulate him on that, but there’s no foundation for Barry calling him the number one super bantamweight in the world after one defence of his title against a fighter who turned down a fight against Rigondeaux.  It’s a bit early in the day to be calling him the best.”

Hyde, who was ringside for the fight on Saturday, was asked if McGuigan or anyone at Team Frampton had expressed any interest to him about actually making the fight a possibility.

“Barry passed me in the corridor near the changing rooms and wouldn't even make eye contact with me.  He wouldn't even look at me.  He’s got no interest in talking about Rigondeaux.  The fight is never going to happen; not when Barry is the promoter, manager and adviser.

“Last week, Frampton said he would fight Quigg and then Rigondeaux, now it’s changed to Quigg and then Santa Cruz and then Rigondeaux.  It doesn't make sense.  What won’t we bring to the table that Santa Cruz does?  Rigondeaux brings two belts and the RING magazine championship; he’s the number one guy, so he brings everything to the table.”

British fight fans want to see the battle between Frampton and Quigg.  A stadium fight has been mentioned for the Summer.  Both fighters say they want it but one man who will do everything in his power to stop it happening next is Gary Hyde.

“Quigg is our mandatory challenger [Quigg holds the WBA regular title with Rigondeaux holding the super version] and we’re going to force him to fight us and put a spanner in the works.  We could try and get a WBC silver title and try to be a mandatory to Leo Santa Cruz, but we shouldn't have to do that.  These guys should be stepping up and fighting the best.

“Why should we sit on the sidelines while Quigg and Frampton line their pockets?  We’re the Super champion and deserve the spot.  If Frampton won’t cooperate with us then we will take Scott Quigg.  We will do everything in our power to stop that fight.  Maybe Quigg will vacate his WBA regular belt, but he will get no credit for that.  If he wants to keep it then he must fight us or be stripped.  We want Frampton or Quigg next, not two or three fights down the road.

“We called for the Quigg fight months ago but he had an injury, well he’s not injured anymore and this week we will be banging the drum with the WBA to force Quigg to either face us or vacate.  We don’t want him to vacate, we want him to fight.

It’s going to be an interesting few months in the super bantamweight division.  Rigondeaux is the main man at the weight, albeit one who can’t seem to get himself a fight with any of the title-holders.  He has shown he will travel and has expressed a desire to pick up every title at 122lbs. Will Frampton, Santa Cruz or Scott Quigg face him?  For the good of the sport, this writer certainly hopes so.

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