THE announcement that Carl Frampton’s comeback fight was to take place in Belfast on November 18th didn’t go down as well with the organisers of the Eventing Ireland Northern Region awards ball as it did with fans of the former two-weight world champion.

We liked Catherine McDowell’s posting on the Region’s Facebook page: “Just a quick note to all who plan on attending our Northern Region Awards Ball on the 18 November. Carl Frampton has just announced he will be fighting on the same night as the ball (how very dare he!!!) in the SSE Arena so hotel rooms will start to book up quickly. If you are planning to stay in Belfast on the night of the Ball please get your hotel booked now!”

While the locally-born Frampton is trading punches with Mexican Horacio Garcia, those attending the awards ball will be enjoying a champagne reception, a four-course meal and a night of dancing to Bizz in the iconic venue of Titanic Belfast.