Former two division beltholder Carl Frampton (23-1, 14 KOs) believes the time is right for a showdown with IBF world featherweight champion Lee Selby (25-1, 9 KOs).

Frampton is back in action this coming Saturday night at the SSE Arena in Belfast, when he takes on Andres Gutierrez (35-1-1, 25KOs) in a WBC world title eliminator. This will be the first fight for Frampton back home in over two years. Three of his last four fights took place in the United States.

Frampton was ringside back on July 15 at Wembley Arena, as he watched Selby win a dominant twelve round decision over mandatory challenger Jonathan Barros. The win for Selby was more impressive as it came only a few days after the passing of his mother.

Frampton will look to bounce back after suffering his first career defeat back in January, when he lost a twelve round majority decision and his WBA title to Leo Santa Cruz in their rematch, which took place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Frampton is in no way overlooking the challenge of Gutierrez, but he believes the interest in a Selby showdown is at a sky high level at the moment.

Both Frampton and Selby are advised by Al Haymon and are showcased as part of the Premier Boxing Champions banner.

"I'm not looking past Gutierrez in any shape or form but it's natural for people to look at the two of us and want to see the fight happen - in the same way that they wanted to see me fight Scott Quigg at super bantamweight," wrote Frampton in his Sunday Life column.

"Selby did the business when he retained his IBF World featherweight title and all credit to him for doing it just a few days after his mother had passed away. I don't think I could have gone in and fought but he did and beat his mandatory challenger Jonathan Barros and afterwards he was talking again about a fight with me and that's one that I would be up for. The timing would seem to be right for the fight.

"Fans want to see who's the best in Britain and it's a natural fight. We did try hard to make it before but I think it should be relatively easy to do if I do what I expect this Saturday night - and of course that the numbers add up. Selby isn't the only option I would have in terms of a world title shot but the all-British battles do create a lot of interest. Selby is a boxer who I've always respected and I know how hard it would be.

"All being well this Saturday, I expect to be fighting again before the end of the year so I can finally enjoy Christmas for the first time in years and a world title fight with Selby would be perfect."