Boxing Betting: Frampton to maintain unbeaten record

Barry McGuigan's pupil Carl Frampton
Ralph Ellis previews the Commonwealth and IBF bout between Carl Frampton and Steve Molitor and fancies the Northern Irish fighter to win on points...
Cynics will tell you that building an unbeaten record for a promising young boxer is more about management skills than how hard he can punch.
For decades rising fighters have fought carefully picked opponents, chosen by promoters to be just good enough to make life awkward but not so good as to be a threat. But eventually there is always a step up in class that provides a proper test - and for Belfast's rising super bantamweight Carl Frampton that's coming next weekend.
Frampton, with a 14 fight unbeaten record under the guidance of Barry McGuigan since turning pro, had been due to fight European champion Kiko Martinez. Instead he now faces a hastily arranged match with former two-time world champion Steve Molitor with his Commonwealth and IBF international titles on the line.
Betfair's early market makes Frampton odds-on favourite. That's based on his unbeaten record and 32-year-old Molitor's performance in his last two contests, which both suggested he's coming to the end of a good career.
The Canadian lost his IBF world title in March last year on a unanimous decision in South Africa to Takalani Ndlovu. Even when he won his comeback fight, in his own Quebec backyard against Sebastien Gauthier, it was on points and that was a split decision.
But if you look at that record and believe Molitor is a man on his way down, then the detail of the fight suggests you can't discount his bravery. Molitor was cut savagely on the side of his left eye early in the fight, and before the start of the tenth the ringside doctor was summoned to inspect the damage closely. He wanted to end the contest, but the Canadian insisted on fighting on, and his courage was rewarded when he got the verdict.
Molitor hasn't fought since. His camp were hoping to get a rematch with Ndlovu, so have kept him in peak condition and believe he will be fresh and ready to make the trip to Belfast.
Even McGuigan, relatively new to the management game, but with the knowledge of a lifetime in the sport, admits this fight is a risk for his man. "This is a stage in Carl's career where we are no longer interested in taking fights we can win," he says.
Molitor's experience makes it a 50-50 fight, so although Frampton is probably just about ready for the step up there will be no value in backing him at odds on. Instead I'd look for a price of about 2.56/4 to be matched in the method of victory market for Frampton to win by a decision.
Recommended Bet
Back Frampton to win by a decision @ around 2.56/4