Frampton could be a big hit back in Belfast

Channel 5, 10.10pm Saturday

Former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton received a body-blow on the scales on Friday when he weighed in one pound over the 126lb featherweight limit, meaning his clash with Mexican Andres Gutierrez is no longer a WBC title eliminator as far as the Jackal is concerned.

Frampton lost his world champion status when he was defeated in his rematch with Leo Santa Cruz by majority decision at the start of the year, and even if he beats Gutierrez he is now likely to have to wait longer for another crack at a world belt.

Betting-wise, however, it doesn't change much for this fight, which is Frampton's first in his native Northern Ireland since early 2015.

Bookies can't see past a routine Frampton victory, chalking him up as a 1-25 shot, although those odds may be slightly disrespectful to Gutierrez, who comes in with a solid record, albeit against fighters of a lower level.

The Mexican has lost just one of 37 fights and has never been stopped, so he clearly knows how to survive, and has been the full 12 rounds on numerous occasions.

But odds of 4-6 for Frampton to win on points don't exactly set the pulse racing, and it may be worth backing the home fighter to force a stoppage at a far more attractive price.

Gutierrez has not fought outside Mexico and the US before, and he will never have experienced anything like the bear-pit atmosphere inside Belfast's SSE Arena.

Coasting to a routine decision win will do nothing for Frampton's reputation, and if anything the disappointment of the weigh-in should motivate him to make a big statement with a highlight-reel stoppage.

The Jackal's last four fights have gone the distance, but he is more than capable of finishing off opponents and often looks more dangerous when fighting in front of his own fans.

Later in New York, Mikey Garcia takes on Adrien Broner in a highly-anticipated super-lightweight bout (Sky Sports Main Event & Action, from 1am).

Lightweight champion Garcia is being touted as the next golden boy in the US, a label that that was attached to Broner just a few years ago.

Defeats to Marcos Maidana and Shawn Porter have tarnished Broner's reputation and it has often seemed that The Problem's biggest problem is himself.

Addressing that situation, Broner told Sky Sports: "A focused Adrien Broner has got the skills to pay the bills", but we have heard that type of third-person self-analysis from him before and it fails to inspire confidence.

Undefeated Garcia is a 4-9 favourite, and he is in supreme form. He has won 13 of his last 14 fights inside the distance, and although Broner has not been stopped before he will be in a lot of trouble if his attitude is not right.

Recommendations
C Frampton by stoppage
1pt 13-8 general
M Garcia by stoppage
1pt 12-5 BetBright, Betfred, Hills