Bute vs Froch Results: Carl Frampton Wins Wide Decision Over Raul Hirales

Carl Frampton was, if you listened to the Sky Sports commentators today, facing a double-tough Mexican warrior whose lack of double toughness of warriorness was a stunner. Instead, he was facing a very limited, inexperienced opponent who didn't offer much resistance, and put in a steady if unspectacular performance over 12 rounds, winning on scores of 120-108, 119-109, and 119-109.

[ Round-By-Round Coverage: Bute vs Froch NEXT! ]

To Hirales' credit, he did do that thing where after you've been clearly defeated, you still pretend you think you won. "Yeah, these scores are for me. Yeah. From... Belfast?! WHAT. Oh no. That is not...well. I think...just..." and so on.

After the fight, Frampton's promoter Eddie Hearn and biggest fan Barry McGuigan still went on about Hirales (16-1-1, 8 KO) as if he had done anything over 12 rounds to make anyone think he was any good.

But all that aside, which just amuses me and nothing more (it's nothing unusual, not a big deal), let's talk about the fight.

Frampton (14-0, 9 KO) didn't do anything wrong here. I don't have any real criticism of his performance. The fight was unfortunately much duller than I anticipated giong in, as I thought Frampton could make it a good action fight regardless of Hirales' ability or desire to be in an action fight, but that's just now what he chose to do in this one. He could probably tell early on he had the win in his pocket, and didn't need to take any unnecessary risks here.

And he dominated the fight. Not in truly great fashion or anything, but he totally neutralized Hirales and the young Mexican (he's Mexican!) was never in it. Frampton did his job and now he'll move on. Hearn says they want to face European champ Kiko Martinez next, and that's a very respectable risk to take. I would have full admiration for them throwing Frampton in with Martinez next time out.

Our live coverage continues in just moments, with the Lucian Bute vs Carl Froch fight up next.