Frank Warren has paid tribute to Carl Frampton after his retirement following the defeat to Jamel Herring last weekend.
The pair fought for Herring’s junior lightweight WBO belt in Dubai as the Irishman attempted to become Ireland’s first three-division champion, but it was the experienced American who eventually claimed victory.
Frampton then announced his retirement, and Queensberry promoter Warren acknowledged that it, “was just a fight and a weight too far,” in a column for BoxingScene.com.
“Father Time catches up with us all at some point and Carl can look forward to more time being a father now he has confirmed the gloves are well and truly hung up,” he continued.
Warren praised Frampton as, “the finest Irish fighter of his generation and anybody else’s."
“The way he goes about his business outside of the ring and inside saw him quickly become a unifying force for his country and there was no divide when Carl went to work.
“It takes a special person and a special fighter to have such an impact on a nation. The rest of Belfast’s boxing boys and girls have got big boots to fill, that is for sure.
“That Carl didn’t bow out as a three-weight world title holder doesn’t matter. He will always be a champion in the eyes of everyone. You only have to look at the warmth of the tributes since Saturday night to realise that.”
Herring is now targeting a fight with WBC champion Oscar Valdez, he told DAZN’s Boxing with Chris Mannix.