Back on December 22, Josh Warrington retained his IBF featherweight title by beating Carl Frampton by unanimous decision after a thrilling twelve round fight.

The pair engaged in one of the contenders for fight of the year at Manchester Arena.

Warrington, an underdog with the bookmakers despite relieving Lee Selby of the world title in May, was rewarded for a huge workrate to earn his 28th win from 28 fights. The judges gave it to Warrington 116-112, 116-112, and 116-113 in his first title defense.

Frampton came back into the fight in the middle rounds but couldn't sustain the pressure and lost for only the second time in 28 bouts, and a second world title fight.

Frampton plans to continue his career and has no intention of taking a step back in competition.

"I would not go back to lesser fights," Frampton said to Sunday Life.

He says the loss was a lot tougher to take than his first defeat at the hands of Leo Santa Cruz, but he's confident of being able to win if a rematch came about.

"I obviously have regrets and feel there are things that I could have done differently," Frampton said.

“For me this is the hardest loss that I have ever had to deal with. Losing to Leo Santa Cruz two years ago was tough but this is so much harder to take. When I think about what I would do differently if there was a rematch I know I would box the way we had planned in the gym.

"Everything went downhill from the first round. I give a lot of credit to Warrington and his team because tactically they got it right and on the night everything fell into place for them. But, if I had a rematch with Warrington I believe I would beat him - if I stuck to my gameplan."