IBF world super-bantamweight champion Carl Frampton is excited ahead of his US debut against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr at the weekend.

The Belfast fighter (20-0-KO14) takes on the Mexican (25-1-2-KO15) in El Paso, Texas and while he is full of respect for his opponent and his former world champion father, Frampton is confident of making a comprehensive defence of his belt.

The 28-year-old said: "I'm very excited. Fighting for the first time in the United States on CBS, this is an incredible opportunity for me to get great exposure.

"His dad was a great champion, a great fighter. I respect both Gonzalez Jr and his father.

"It's just levels really, and I am at a better level than Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. He's a good fighter, I'm giving him credit. He will come to fight and make it interesting, but I have all the tools to beat him.

"He will try to keep it long, most of my opponents do. I can punch very hard and when I hit people they tend to go backwards.

"From the start he will try to keep it a long fight, but it's up to me to use tactics that will work. We have plan A and plan B, but we think plan A will work."

Gonzalez Jr, 22, remains bullish over his chances of causing an upset.

He said: "They call Carl Frampton a superstar in the UK. He has a world championship. I'm a contender. When I become champion, I will have a following, especially when I beat Carl Frampton.

"There are weaknesses in Carl Frampton's game, but I can't tell you in case he hears my plan. It's easy to see a fighter and tell them they should have done this or that. It is different when you're in the ring."

Frampton has long been linked with a unification bout with domestic rival and WBA champion Scott Quigg, who fights Kiko Martinez on Saturday night live on Sky Sports.