FORMER two weight world champion Carl Frampton has announced that he has split from manager Barry McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions.

Frampton stated, “I can confirm that I have parted company with Barry McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions. I would like to thank Barry, and the McGuigan family and Cyclone promotions for our time together.

“Having taken time to consider my future and discussed it with those closest to me, I am confident that now is the right time to move forward and take my career into my own hands.

“I still believe that I’m the best featherweight in the world and I promise my fans that I am continuing with my efforts to get a homecoming fight rescheduled in the very near future.”

Frampton unified titles at super-bantamweight and moved up to 126lbs where he dethroned WBA champion Leo Santa Cruz in 2016. He has had a nightmare year in 2017, losing a rematch to Santa Cruz and then seeing a homecoming fight in Belfast abruptly cancelled last month. Frampton missed weight for a non-title bout with Andres Gutierrez, only for their bout to fall through when his opponent fell in the shower the night before.

It must be a difficult move. Frampton is close to the whole McGuigan family. Frampton has spent his professional career with Barry McGuigan as his manager and mentor and, after leaving Matchroom, joined the promotional company run by McGuigan’s son Blane. Frampton’s trainer is also Barry’s son Shane.

Carl frampton

While it’s unclear which new promoter Frampton will work with and whether he will change trainers, Frampton did say he wanted to “take my career into my own hands,” a hint perhaps that he intends to be self-managed.