Carl Frampton needs new opponent for August 15th return

Former two division Unified World Champion Carl Frampton is still to be in action on August 15th in London, but now he’s in search of a new opponent.

This after a breaking item Thursday afternoon from Keith Idec of boxingscene.com that Frampton’s scheduled opponent Vahram Vardanyan is unable to get a visa and travel to the U.K. in time for their bout next weekend:

Frampton Seeking New Opponent, Vardanyan Out Due To Visa Issue https://t.co/Ilrka2lGLh pic.twitter.com/j8OZ1X0BVl

— BoxingScene.com (@boxingscene) August 6, 2020

Frampton, 27-2, 15 KOs, confirmed to the site that Vardanyan, who is from Latvia, is out and the search is on,

“It is what it is. I feel like I’m a pretty positive person. These things are out of my control. I just have to deal with it, and that’s what I intend to do.

I still don’t know who I will be fighting. I’m sure they will get an opponent for me for the 15th, but at this point in time I’m not sure who it’s gonna be and I’m sure which weight it’s gonna be. I imagine an opponent coming in at a week’s notice is not gonna be able to make 130 [pounds].” 

The two were to have fought in a 10-round Junior Lightweight non-title battle at the BT Sports Studios in London.

The 33 year old Frampton, who most recently was the WBA/WBO Featherweight champ before Leo Santa Cruz defeated him. Frampton is also the former Unified 122 lb. title holder, as well, and is slotted for a title shot with current WBO 130 lb. Champion, Jamel Herring.

Herring and Frampton were tentatively scheduled to meet back in June in Ireland before the Covid-19 pandemic shut the sport down. Herring has since struggled with Coronavirus himself having to twice postponed his title defense with Jonathan Oquendo.

The Herring-Oquendo fight has now been scheduled for a third time for September 5th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Frampton’s fight is part of a co-main event on the Queensberry Promotions show that includes Ireland’s popular Featherweight star, unbeaten Michael Conlan. Conlan, 13-0, 7 KOs, is fighting more experienced French opponent, Sofiane Takoucht (35-4-1, 13 KOs).

With a win, Conlan will certainly be in the mix for a title shot at 126 lb. later this year or early next year.