I think about Billy McKee every day and I'll bring world title belt to his graveside to honour him

Carl Frampton

The death of my old mentor Billy McKee has hit me hard.

March 28 2021 12:24 PM

This Saturday night I believe will be the greatest moment of my professional boxing career. Defeating WBO world super-featherweight champion Jamel Herring to become a three-weight world champion would top everything else.

To become the only boxer from the island of Ireland to win world titles at three weights and just the third British fighter since the war to achieve the feat gives me goosebumps. My motivation could not be higher and, while obviously I am doing this for personal achievement, this is also for everyone who has helped me get to this point.

On my bedside table in the hotel here in Dubai are two photographs - one of my kids and the other of my late great mentor and coach Billy McKee, who passed away last month. It hit me really hard when Billy died and it hasn't been easy since then. I think about Billy every day and I would love nothing more than to bring home the belt and take it to his graveside, to honour him with the role he played in making me the fighter and man I am.

Billy didn't just guide me as a fighter, he gave me so much good advice for life and always had my back. I wouldn't be going for a world title in a third weight division if he hadn't put in all the hard work, time, and money into from the age of seven to the point I turned professional at 22. Billy's impact on all those who came through the doors of Midland ABC will never be forgotten. He inspired kids to be good citizens as much as he helped with boxing and I want to bring the world title belt back to the club to show the next generation what can be achieved through sacrifice, grit and determination. If I can do it, they can do it.

Of course, Herring will have other ideas and he will be thinking that his height and reach will make life very difficult for me. But I feel that my footwork, head movement and fast hands will allow me to take advantage of certain things.

It all has to work out on the night and I'm taking nothing for granted but I've been sparring and fighting guys bigger than me my whole life so it's not an issue and neither is the fact he's a southpaw. I know some fighters struggle with southpaws, but it has never been an issue for me.

It's such a big night with so much on the line and if I lose this then I will hang up my gloves and go home to spend a happy life with my family who have sacrificed so much so I could pursue my dreams. But I'm not even thinking about defeat, I am totally convinced that this will be my night and the title is coming home to Northern Ireland and a win would set up some more very big nights.

My firm belief in victory is not based on just faith in my ability but the feedback I've been receiving from my sparring partners and coaches Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis.

Jamie said he saw a difference in me as soon as the court case with the McGuigans was out of the way. I felt I was enjoying the court process near the end, but it was a relief when it was over.

Since the split, it was always in the background, but the case drew a line under all that. I had a very satisfactory outcome and I don't think about them anymore.

In the gym I've been flying. I had my last day of sparring on Tuesday and the final round with Alex Dilmaghani, who has fought for the European title, was the best of the camp.

Dilmaghani has even commented how sore his arms have been when I connect so if I hit Herring flush on the chin, I know I can knock him out. Whatever way the fight goes, all I can see is my hand being raised at the end and I don't care if it's a stoppage or points.

It's exciting to think that I am just days away from cementing my legacy with an achievement of a world title in a third weight class which I don't think will be repeated for a long time by an Irish or British boxer. It's hard to put into words just what it would mean to me.

I will need time to reflect and let you all know after the fight. I just have to make it happen and I'm convinced I will.