Frampton hits out at "anti-NI" sports awards and looks ahead to Santa Cruz rematch

World WBA featherweight boxing champion Carl Frampton has questioned whether the BBC's Sports Personality of the Year is "anti-Northern Ireland" after he and other local stars were omitted from the award's shortlist.

The Belfast fighter, who in 2016 unified super bantamweight world titles before moving up a division to win a featherweight world title, claimed he would have been selected on the 16-strong list if he was English.

Frampton's remarks came as Democratic Unionist MP Ian Paisley vowed to raise concerns around the absence of Northern Ireland nominees at Westminster.

As well as a regional basis, Frampton suggested the selection was also potentially "anti-boxing," and earlier spoke of his disappointment.

He asked why two-time world Superbike champion Jonathan Rea from Co Antrim and Team GB's most decorated paralympian at Rio, Bethany Firth, were also omitted.

His team made their thoughts known on Twitter.

DISGRACE that @RealCFrampton is not nominated for @BBCSPOTY! In 2016 Frampton became Unified & 2 weight World Champ & UK boxer of the year

— Team Jackal Official (@Team_Jackal) November 28, 2016

Paralympians who won fewer medals in Brazil than the Co Down swimmer's haul of three golds and a silver did make the 16.

"I feel like I should have got on but Johnny Rea also had a shout, Bethany Firth as well also had a shout," said Frampton.

"And I think maybe what it looks to me is maybe anti-boxing, maybe anti-Northern Ireland, who knows?

"But listen, I am not going to cry about it and I'll get on with my career."

Frampton became the first boxer from Northern Ireland to win world titles at two different weights when he beat previously undefeated Mexican Leo Santa Cruz in New York in the summer.

That featherweight victory came after he defeated England's Scott Quigg in Manchester in February to unify two super bantamweight world titles.

In an interview with BBC Radio Ulster's Nolan Show, Frampton said he believed tennis star Andy Murray would be the clear winner of the award, but he said he still deserved to be among the nominees.

North Antrim MP Mr Paisley has tabled an early day motion on the issue in the Commons.

In response to the furore, a BBC spokeswoman said: "In what has been an extraordinary year of sport, many contenders were considered and debated by an expert industry panel, who by consensus agreed on the shortlist."

The Belfast boxer takes on Santa Cruz in a rematch scheduled for January 28 in Las Vegas, and Frampton wants to win "more convincingly" this time.

Speaking at the event preview earlier, the Belfast man says he's motivated for a tough battle next time.

He went on to say a fight at Windsor Park would be a dream come true.

It's been a while since he last fought in his home town.