Exclusive Interview: Carl Frampton on Boxing’s Biggest Rumours, Crossover Fights, and Who Should Walk Away

Intro

Boxing loves a rumour — especially when it involves crossover matchups, legacy rematches, and the kind of “one last payday” fights that split fans down the middle.

In this exclusive interview, former two-division world champion Carl Frampton shares his candid take on the biggest storylines circulating in boxing and MMA — from Katie Taylor’s name being linked to Ronda Rousey, to whether another Pacquiao–Mayweather fight has real value, to why fighter protections still matter.

Key Highlights

• Taylor vs. Rousey: Frampton says Taylor wins “with relative ease,” but understands the payday appeal.
• Pacquiao–Mayweather II: He expects huge viewership — but calls it “a cash grab.”
• McGregor vs. Mayweather (MMA rules): He doesn’t see Mayweather accepting an MMA rules bout.
• Muhammad Ali Act: He strongly opposes changes and frames it as a fighter-protection issue.
• Moses Itauma: He sees a future champion — and explains why the Tyson comparisons are imperfect.
• Garcia vs. Benn: He calls it a true 50–50 fight.

Katie Taylor vs. Ronda Rousey rumours

Q: What are your thoughts on Katie Taylor vs. Ronda Rousey rumours?

“I don't see it as a real fight, because she's not a boxer. Katie Taylor has boxed all her life. She's an incredible, incredible boxer, and in my eyes, the pound-for-pound number one female fighter that's ever lived. I think she's absolutely incredible.

And a fight with Ronda Rousey is a fight that she wins, and she wins with relative ease, because Ronda Rousey isn't a boxer, but a big name. So, it's something that I don't mind happening.

If Katie wants to go and fight someone like Ronda Rousey and make an absolute bundle of money, then be my guest. But if she wanted to retire as well, then I would say do that, because you deserve to be praised for the rest of your life. What she's done in this sport will be talked about in the next century. It's been absolutely incredible.

And if she wants to go and make, I don't know, what does Katie Taylor make against Ronda Rousey? Maybe 30 million, something like that. Mental money, and it's a very easy fight for her, then why not?”

Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather II

Q: What do you make of the rumours about Manny Pacquiao vs. Floyd Mayweather II

“I say there is value in it, because there will be people that tune in to watch it, but it's not that appealing to me, because when they did fight each other, which was a long time ago, they were both well past their best.

So the fight right now does not appeal to me in the slightest. It'll be a way for the two boys to make money, but that's all it is. It's a cash grab.

There will be eyes watching it. There'll be a lot of people, millions and millions of people around the world would tune into that. But if you're a realist, you just got to look at it for and take it for what it is, which is two old men that have seen better days having a fight. It doesn't appeal to me, to be honest.”

Conor McGregor vs. Floyd Mayweather (MMA rules)

Q: Conor McGregor has called Floyd Mayweather out for an MMA fight in the White House. Is there demand to see that fight?

“If Conor McGregor wanted to fight Floyd Mayweather with MMA rules, then it's an easy fight for Conor McGregor. So, I mean, there would be an appeal in it, because no one's seen Floyd Mayweather do MMA before.

I think both guys are a bit like Marmite, love them or hate them, but there'd be a lot of people that would like to see Conor McGregor choke Floyd Mayweather out, and that's what would happen. It would be a really straightforward, easy fight with MMA rules.

But, for me, I would I'd probably watch that one with MMA rules just to see how long Floyd Mayweather fought or lasted. But Floyd's not daft. There is absolutely not a hope in hell that Floyd Mayweather fights Conor McGregor with MMA rules.”

Proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act

Q: What do you think about his proposed changes to the Muhammad Ali Act?

“I really don't like it. I think that there're rules that protect fighters, and if you look at Dana's background in terms of the wages that the UFC fighters are being paid, from the outside looking in anyway, it almost looks like they want to get fighters involved, but pay them what they want and maybe not what they deserve.

Whereas the Muhammad Ali Act, one of the big things is the manager can't be the promoter and vice versa, because there's a conflict of interest there. And I had an issue with that with my old team and with a big court case and everything else, which was a very stressful period of my life.

But the Muhammad Ali Act is there to protect fighters and nothing else. Not to protect promoters or managers, and for me the fighters are the most important aspect of this whole thing. So I don't I don't like it.”

Moses Itauma vs. a young Mike Tyson

Q: Can we compare Moses Itauma to a young Mike Tyson?

“No doubt Moses Itauma is going to be a world champion, and no doubt he's going to be undisputed at a point in his career. The kid is phenomenal. Absolutely incredible. I love to watch him.

But similarities to Tyson, they don't really have the same style. Moses is extremely explosive, but he's a little bit more clinical than Tyson. Tyson threw a lot more big wide movements and big hooks and stuff. Moses is very, very smart. Not saying that Tyson wasn't smart. He was, and he was good at what he did, but Moses is a bit more calculated than someone like Mike Tyson.”

Ryan Garcia calling out Conor Benn

Q: What do you think about Ryan Garcia calling out Conor Benn?

“I think it's a 50-50, if I'm being honest. Conor’s very, very ballsy, isn't he? And very aggressive, and always in your face. He's very fit, too. I think that sort of style would give Garcia problems.

But then again, Garcia is very accurate, and he's a sharp shooter, so Conor coming forward all the time would give him chances to nail him.

But if Conor could get into the second half of the fight against Garcia, then I think that it's his fight to be won. I think it's a 50-50. But it's it's an intriguing fight. It really is. And whatever you want to say about their styles and how good both of them actually are as fighters, I think it's a good fight. And at this stage, yeah, I couldn't really pick a winner.”

The future for Chris Eubank Jr.

Q: What about the future for Chris Eubank Jr?

“I don't think he should fight again. I think that the money he's made throughout his career, and specifically in the last couple of fights he had with Benn, he's made more money than fighters that are a lot better than him.”

You could see from the first fight with Benn to the second fight, the first fight had taken something away from Chris Eubank. And as you as you get older and as the more the harder rounds you do in the gym and the harder fights you have, it literally takes it takes something away from a fighter. I know that personally, and it happened to me. I just don't think Chris Eubank Jr. is the same fighter as he once was. And it can happen like that. And that's that's what's happened to him.

So, I would like to see him stay retired. Go and spend your money and do whatever you want to do.”

Josh Warrington vs. Leigh Wood

Q: What’s your pick for Josh Warrington versus Leigh Wood.

“A really good fight. Again, two fighters past their best. Warrington is an old opponent of mine and a friend as well. It's a fight we’ve been talking about for quite a long time, and I know there's no love lost between the two boys.

I've a lot of time for Leigh. He was a good fighter, a really nice guy, someone who really lives the life as well, but he looked really, really poor in his last fight.

I remember speaking to someone when I was working on the fight and they said that he looked like he was punching in slow motion when I was sitting ringside watching it, and I just think that's because he's seen better days.

And I think that although Warrington has also seen better days, Warrington would be a strong favourite in that one for me.”

Paul Hughes and the UFC

Q: Do you see Paul Hughes in the UFC in the future?

“I'm coming at this from the viewpoint as a very casual MMA fan. I watch the big fights, and it's a sport that I do enjoy, but to say I know too much about it, I'd be telling lies.

But no doubt he's very good, and the people you speak to would also say that Paul Hughes is very good. And I mean, he's better than better than some of the guys that are in the UFC, no doubt about it.

But, I didn't get this from Paul or anybody, but apparently the PFL pay a little bit more than some of the top guys in the UFC. So, maybe it's just about that, really.

Paul doesn't seem to be, in my eyes anyway, someone who craves the limelight and needs to be paraded down the street and everybody talking about him. He's someone who has goals and ambitions and wants to be a world champion, and whether that's in the PFL or UFC, no doubt that's going to happen sometime.

Very, very determined person, very switched on, lives the life as well, really invests in his career, too, Paul. And I think all these things are important, but I'd love to see him in the UFC just because it gives him a bit more of a profile and limelight.

But I wouldn't be surprised if he's a PFL fighter for the rest of his days. But whatever happens, I'm very confident that Paul will become a world champion at some point.”

Closing Thought

From crossover rumours to fighter protections, Frampton’s answers cut through the noise — focused on what’s real, what sells, and what fighters should protect most: their careers and their health.