Preview: Premier Boxing Champions on CBS ‘Frampton vs. Gonzalez’

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Super bantamweights

Carl Frampton (20-0, 14 KOs) vs. Alejandro Gonzalez (25-1-2, 15 KOs)

Premier Boxing Champions brings Part 1 of a Texas doubleheader to the Don Haskins Center in El Paso on Saturday afternoon when Northern Ireland’s Carl Frampton defends his IBF world super bantamweight title against Mexico’s Alejandro Gonzalez. The fight airs on CBS beginning at 4 p.m. ET/1 p.m. PT.

Frampton-Gonzalez serves as an appetizer for the matchup between Julio Cesar Chaves Jr. and Marcos Reyes at the same venue later in the evening, but there is still plenty of intrigue to be found in the matinee bout. Frampton will look to impress in his U.S. debut, while Gonzalez figures to have plenty of support from El Paso’s Mexican-American population as he attempts to earn the signature victory of his career to date.

Related » A Closer Look: PBC on CBS ‘Frampton vs. Gonzalez’

The Matchup: The 28-year-old Frampton captured the 122-pound strap with a lopsided verdict in a rematch against Kiko Martinez this past September, and he successfully defended the belt with a fifth-round knockout of Chris Avalos in February. “The Jackal” is immensely popular in his native Belfast, but he must adjust quickly to fighting far from home.

Frampton comes equipped with a solid arsenal of techniques, including a jab, left hook, straight right and right uppercut. What he lacks in flash -- Frampton rarely gets wild or utilizes unorthodox techniques -- he makes up for in overall efficiency.

With 14 knockouts in 20 professional outings, Frampton has developed the reputation as a hard hitter at 122 pounds, but his punches aren’t necessarily devastating on their own. Instead, it is his accuracy, along with his ability to set up his knockdowns, that makes him dangerous. Frampton uses his jab judiciously, and although it doesn’t always land consistently, it does create openings for more powerful offerings, such as his straight right or left hook. Although Frampton is a natural counter puncher, when he leads he is adept at getting his opponent to move where he wants with his jab in order to create punching opportunities.

In addition to being accurate, Frampton is also intelligent. While he doesn’t land in great volume, each of his punches seems to have a purpose, which is often to set up the next offering. The end product is a fighter who mixes up his punches well, is capable of fighting both inside and outside and can either lead or use his adversaries’ aggression against them.

Gonzalez, the son of 55-fight veteran Alejandro “La Cobrita” Gonzalez, has compiled a gaudy record since making his professional debut as a 17-year-old in 2010. However, Frampton represents a significant step up in competition for the younger Gonzalez, who has fought almost exclusively in Mexico thus far in his career. The 22-year-old has won three straight fights since suffering his first ever defeat against Juan Alberto Rosas in April 2014. In his lone U.S. appearance, Gonzalez scored three knockdowns en route to a first-round stoppage of Leopoldo Gonzalez at El Paso’s Sun Bowl in 2012.

The Pick: This fight should serve as something of a coming out party for Frampton in the United States, although boxing in an unfamiliar, hostile environment could require an adjustment period. Still, Frampton has all the tools necessary to shine against what could turn out to be an overmatched opponent. As the son of a former world champion, Gonzalez figures to fight with plenty of heart and tenacity, but too much aggression could work against him in the end. Frampton finishes this one in the later rounds.