Carl Frampton splits from Barry McGuigan after choosing to 'take my career into my owns hands'

Carl Frampton has split from long-time promoter Barry McGuigan as well as his trainer, son Shane, after deciding to “take my career into my own hands”.

The separation comes just weeks after 30-year-old Frampton’s fight with Andres Gutierrez was called off at short notice in extraordinary circumstances, with the Northern Irishman missing weight by a pound before the Mexican slipped and fell in the shower, suffering facial injuries that meant he could not fight in the Belfast face-off.

The announcement is not a surprise after rumours surfaced last week that relations between Frampton and McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions were becoming strained, with Frampton also having a close partnership with Shane McGuigan, who trained him throughout his career and guided ‘The Jackal’ to the WBA and IBF super-bantamweight titles and WBA featherweight title.

“I can confirm that I have parted company with Barry McGuigan and Cyclone Promotions,” Frampton said on a statement. “I would like to thank Barry, the McGuigan family and Cyclone Promotions for our time together.”

Frampton turned professional in 2009 and under McGuigan’s guidance, went on to become one of the leading boxers in the world, with the two-weight world champion surpassing former WBA featherweight champion McGuigan as Northern Ireland’s most successful fighter in terms of titles won.

He now looks set to go it alone, with Frampton adding that he has already considered what his next step will be in an attempt to put himself back into the world title picture.

“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,” Frampton added.

“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 my homecoming fight rescheduled in the very near future.”

He later added: “Every setback is a set-up for an even greater comeback.”

Frampton won the IBF super-bantamweight title in September 2014 when he defeated Kiko Martinez by unanimous decision in Belfast, before unifying the decision when he added the WBA super-bantamweight title by beating domestic rival Scott Quigg in Manchester.

A move up to 126lbs followed where he immediately claimed the WBA featherweight title by beating Leo Santa Cruz, though he would lose the rematch at the start of this year and the anticipated return against Gutierrez was called off in controversial circumstances, with Frampton missing weight the day before the bout in July before Gutierrez slipped in his hotel shower later in the day and suffered a gash to his face that ruled him out of the contest. After initially being postponed with McGuigan urging fans to retain their tickets for a rescheduled bout, the fight was cancelled completely last week when it emerged that Frampton and Cyclone Promotions were on the verge of a split.