Carl Frampton, Josh Warrington reach deal for December 22nd in Manchester

According to the BBC, the long-simmering title match between pop UK featherweights Carl Frampton and Josh Warrington appears to be a done deal. The two are looking to face off in Manchester Arena on December 22nd, though the article suggests neither the venue nor date are set in stone.

Frampton (26-1, 15 KO) is 3-0 since a narrow loss to Leo Santa Cruz in their second meeting, winning the WBO interim title with a decision over Nonito Donaire and stopping Luke Jackson in his first defense. He’s just over three years older than Leeds’ Warrington (27-0, 6 KO), who defied 3-to-1 odds to defeat Lee Selby for the IBF title in May.

Though Frampton-Selby was clearly the preferred outcome going into that May battle, this is still a very nice domestic fight. Frampton will look to prove he’s still got something left after those grueling fights with Santa Cruz and Warrington will to assert his place among the world’s best featherweights.