Carl Frampton dismissed speculation that recovery from hand surgery will force a postponement of his planned fight in May against junior lightweight champion Jamel Herring in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Frampton’s hometown.
Frampton underwent surgery during the week before Christmas for fractures he sustained in both hands in a unanimous decision over Tyler McCreary on Nov. 30 in Las Vegas.
“Everything is going where it needs to be and I’m looking forward to getting back to training,’’ Frampton (27-2, 15 KOs) told MTK Global, an international agency that represents about 100 fighters. “I’m itching to get back in there.”
A story in the Irish Times reported that the fight would be delayed until June or July because Frampton would not be ready. The newspaper quoted Herring as saying he didn’t foresee “a fight happening in Belfast any time soon.”
The newspaper speculated that Herring (21-2, 10 KOs) would take a possible interim fight on March 15 in New York.
“Someone showed me an article that said sources had told them the hands won’t be ready for May,’’ Frampton said. “I don’t know where these sources are coming from, but they’ve got it wrong.
“I’ve had both hands operated on, and they’re sore, but the surgeon was happy with how the operations went. He said I’ve got plenty of time. He said I could be punching within six weeks after the surgery.
“Even if I waited 10 weeks to start punching, it would still be plenty of time to get ready for May. I have another appointment with the specialist at the end of the month, and we’ll know more after that, but the pain is easing every day, and I’ve got more movement in both hands every day.’’