Wee Ross boxing clever thanks to world champ Carl

The five-year-old, who has been fighting Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia since February, was thrilled to receive the gift of signed boxing gloves, just hours before Frampton beat Kiko Martinez in front of 16,000 ecstatic fans at the Titanic Quarter in Belfast.

Ross’s mum Claire told The Times: “A boxer from Ballyclare’s Spartans Boxing Club, William Thompson, took the gloves to Carl Frampton and got him to sign them. We held a white collar boxing match and auction at The Hilton Hotel in Templepatrick on Friday and Carl signed two pairs of gloves - one for Ross and one to be auctioned. Carl said that he would have been at our event to support us but he had to rest before his fight.”

The family, who are all keen boxing fans, were amazed to receive the last-minute gift as The Jackal prepared to square up to his Spanish opponent.

Claire continued: “Ross loves to box and our other son Jack also did boxing for kids. I would box for fitness, but I think it was my husband David who was the most excited about the gloves!”

Around 240 people crowded into the Hilton Hotel to witness the 10 charity white collar bouts and show their support for the young family.

• Read the full story in this week’s Times (on sale now)