Carl Frampton vs Horacio Garcia result: Frampton labours to contentious points decision against brave Mexican warrior

CARL FRAMPTON got back to winning ways after nearly a year out of the ring with a dubious points decision win against Horacio Garcia.

The 30-year-old put in an underwhelming performance at the SSE Arena, and had to overcome a knockdown to win on judges score cards of 98-93, 97-93 and 96-93.

The former two-weight world champion started off strongly, asserting his jab and connecting at will with straight rights.

But as the rounds went on, Garcia began to settle down and was catching 'The Jackal' whenever he wanted as fatigue looked to creep in for Frampton.

And he was being caught flush with quick combinations, and was constantly being trapped against the ropes as he failed to impose himself.

With Canelo Alvarez in attendance, the Mexican legend watched his compatriot then put down Frampton in the seventh round, though it looked as though it was a slip.

Garcia - the 100/1 underdog before the clash - continued to match forward until the last round.

The tenth round was an all-out war, with both fighters trading leather with each man sensing a KO could be on the cards.

But it was Frampton who was awarded the wide decision win in controversial fashion.

He immediately set his sights on world title fights in 2018, with Leo Santa Cruz, Lee Selby and Scott Quigg all potential opponents.

Frampton said: "I wanted a hard fight. I didn't want anything too easy. The cobwebs are gone - and now I want one of the big boys. I'm ready for them."

Before adding: "Frank has promised me Windsor Park. I think we can bring the biggest names in boxing to Belfast!"

Jamie Conlan's dream of becoming a world champion on home soil ended in despair after he was knocked out by Jerwin Ancajas.

Hailing from the Philippines, the 25-year-old dazzled on British shores as he stopped 'The Mexican' in the sixth round to retain his IBF super-flyweight belt.

Things got off to a nightmare start for Conlan after he was forced to take a knee in the opening round, with what looked to be a knee problem.

Spurred on by his home fans, he bravely soldiered on, but repeatedly tasted the canvas after being floored with sickening body shots.

The 31-year-old went down once more in rounds two and four, and went down for the final time in the sixth after being clipped on the side of the head.

Even though he made it back to his feet, the referee waved away the fight to put an end to the constant punishment being inflicted by 'Pretty Boy'.

Elsewhere, two-time Olympic bronze medallist Paddy Barnes picked up the vacant WBO Inter-Continental flyweight belt with an emphatic KO win against Eliecer Quezada.

The WBO European champion put down the Nicaraguan in the second round with a looping right hook, but had to wait until the sixth before he got stopped his man.

A flurry of combos culminated in a vicious left hook to the body, with the ref waving away the contest.

It was Barnes' first knockout win in the paid ranks, and he will now be targeting a world title in 2018.

While South African star Zelani Tete created history after blitzing his way to a first round victory against compatriot Siboniso Gonya.

The 29-year-old won the quickest-ever world title fight after knocking out the challenger in just 11 SECONDS to retain his WBO bantamweight title.

Speaking post-fight, he revealed he is chasing a mega-unification bout against WBA and IBF champ Ryan Burnett in 2018.