Lightweight Cassius Connor endured a tough sparring session with Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton in preparation for his forthcoming bout on July 12th in London’s York Hall.
The unbeaten super bantamweight king paid a visit to Connor’s gym – The Lansbury ABC in Poplar, London where he trains each day with renowned trainer Alec Wilkey.
The high-octane sparring session lasted a full six rounds. Connor commented following the gruelling action, “Six rounds of sparring with someone so skilful and accurate will always be beneficial for me. This guy will be world champion one day and sparring regularly with a fighter of that calibre is only going to improve me in every aspect.”
Tiger Bay’s super bantamweight king Frampton used the sparring with Connor as valuable training experience for his forthcoming rematch with Kiko Martinez in Belfast on September 6th to defend his IBF crown.
On a packed Goodwin Promotions show at the famous York Hall, Bethnal Green, Connor was due to do battle with tough Bulgarian, Kristian ‘The Warrior’ Dochev 10(3)-17(3)-0 but due to conceding a stoppage win to 22 year old Hackney lightweight Ohara Davies, he has been pulled out of the scheduled fight and replaced with the number one ranked Bulgarian lightweight Yordan Vasilev 16(4)-36(12)-2.
The Surrey star has pushed himself forward in preparing for his first title challenge of 2014 having recently sparred with British champion Curtis Woodhouse in his Rotherham gym.
Connor twice made the trip north to share the ring with the footballer-turned-boxer Woodhouse.
The sparring was welcomed too by the Lonsdale title holder Woodhouse as vital preparation in gearing up for his first title defence against Commonwealth king Willie Limond, in a winner takes all contest on June 27th in Glasgow as chief support to Ricky Burns’ comeback fight.
“Sparring Curtis Woodhouse – the British champ and now Frampton – IBF champ is like a dream for me. All good for July 12th,” promised Connor.
Connor’s title fight takes place on a talent packed Goodwin Promotions show, claimed to be ‘the biggest and strongest card they have ever staged’, with headlining fight between KO artist Richard Commey and tough Welshman Gary Buckland in an enticing match up for the vacant commonwealth lightweight title.
