CARL FRAMPTON reminded the world of his bludgeoning power by blowing away eight months of cobwebs with a TKO win.
The 33-year-old Irish icon became the highest-profile fighter to box behind closed doors when he stopped Darren Traynor in the seventh at York Hall.
And, after two operations on his heavy but battered hands over Christmas, it was the perfect way for Frampton to show the super-feather division he now aims to conquer he has not lost his crushing capabilities.
The former two-weight king rocked Traynor’s head back with the first couple of jabs he threw and a left hook connected flush when the Scot dropped his guard.
Traynor did not turn up to London to lose and he started the second with a rapid combination.
In the third, the Belfast hero really got his jab working in singles and doubles but lead right hand and follow-up left was the most impressive combination of the stanza.
Traynor had been stopped twice before the weekend but he ate a few Frampton power punches and remained firmly seated at the table.
After a nightmare 2019, there were plenty of questions for Frampton to answer and he seemed happy to take his time and show his working out.
A rasping one-two was the ideal way to start the sixth for the odds-on favourite.
But Traynor kept marching forward and hurling fire until a sensational left hook to the gut flattened him completely out.
Frampton’s scarred fist slammed into Traynor’s stomach and his agonised howl filled the empty York Hall BT Sport had decorated so dramatically.
And an identical shot in the seventh caused Traynor to turn his back and surrender as the ref waved the increasingly one-sided clash off.
Frampton is now free to focus on cementing himself as Ireland’s greatest ever boxer by hopefully facing WBO champ Jemal Herring as soon as travel allows.
But he admits he will need to be better to become a three-time champ.
Now 28-2, Frampton said: “Once I started landing my jab, I hurt him a few times with the jab and then the body shots in the second half of the fight.
“I know I need to be a lot better but it was good to get the rounds in. My hands are fine, no issues there, so onwards and upwards.”
