Frampton to fight Chris Avalos on February 28
IBF super-bantamweight champion Carl Frampton (19-0, 13 KOs) will defend his world title against Chris Avalos (25-2, 19 KOs) on February 28 at the Odyssey Arena in Belfast.
The 27-year-old is back on home territory for the first defence of the belt he won when he beat Kiko Martinez by unanimous decision in the city's Titanic Quarter in September.
Avalos, 25, has won six fights in a row and was in a mandatory position to challenge either Frampton for his belt or unified champion Guillermo Rigondeaux, but he and his team opted for Frampton because it is a much more lucrative fight.
The American knocked out Yasutaka Ishimoto in the eighth round in May in a world title eliminator.
"I am going to win, and it will be by knockout," said a confident Avalos at a press conference.
Frampton said: "I can guarantee I am going to beat Chris Avalos convincingly."
Frampton, if he gets past Avalos, as expected, is set to meet WBA champion Scott Quigg, who has been forced to call off his own March defence after surgery on a damaged hand, in the summer.