Carl Frampton has drawn on the recent exploits of modern-day great Roman Gonzalez to inspire him in his bid to become a three-weight world champion.

At the end of last month Gonzalez, 32, destroyed the three-year reign of Kal Yafai to take the Brit’s WBA super flyweight title in Dallas. Gonzalez topped off a mesmerising performance to knock Yafai out in the ninth round of their fight to become a two-time super flyweight champion adding to his stunning accomplishment as a four-weight world champion.

Frampton, 33, looks set to take on the WBO super featherweight champion Jamel Herring in Belfast this summer and has been buoyed by the 49th career win of Gonzalez.

Writing in his weekly column for the Sunday Life newspaper Frampton said, “Watching Roman Gonzalez defeat Kal Yafai last weekend gave me great inspiration ahead of my world title fight this summer.

“At one point Gonzalez, known as Chocolatito, was arguably the No.1 pound for pound fighter in the world and then after a couple of defeats in 2017 was written off. He was picked to be a huge name on Yafai’s record but instead gave a masterclass to lift the WBA world super flyweight belt.

“I’ve been written off after the loss to Leo Santa Cruz and again after my defeat to Josh Warrington but Chocolatito showed what can be done when you truly believe. How he took Yafai apart was the difference between a world-class fighter and an elite one.”

On Monday Boxing Scene’s Ron Lewis reported that the Herring v Frampton clash will go ahead on June 13 in a fight which will be promoted by Frank Warren’s Queensbury Promotions in association with Top Rank. A formal announcement is expected this week.

Twitter @shaunrbrown