Carl Frampton's post of U2 gift is six years old, band insider says

Carl Frampton’s recent Tweet of a U2 gift basket, was actually sent to both him and Barry McGuigan in 2014.

The boxer took to social media on Sunday night, posting a snap of the gift basket filled with Guinness and Champagne — the ingredients to Bono’s signature ‘Black Velvet’ cocktail.

The basket was accompanied by a signed note from Bono and Edge saying that the band was “in your corner”.

The picture was accompanied by a ‘cool emoji’ and prompted speculation from his 444,000 strong fan base that the millionaire rockers were in his corner in his court battle against Barry McGuigan.

However, the Sunday World can reveal that the gift basket was sent to both Frampton and McGuigan after the Kiko Martinez world title fight in 2014.

While U2 were unavailable for comment, a band insider confirmed that the gift basket was six years old and had not been sent in recent days.

"This has nothing to do with the lawsuit between Carl and Barry McGuigan," revealed the source.

"This was sent to the Frampton/McGuigan camp back in 2014.

"The band has always tried to champion the best of Irish and they wanted to congratulate both of them after the title win.

"There is nothing more to it than that, they have always tried to give back to the country where they live, even donating €10million to Covid relief earlier this year.

"They often mark big occasions with these hampers.

"They sent one to Kodaline before their big headline gig in Malahide Castle and one to The Script before they played Croke Park.

"They even sent one to Metallica, to their dressing room, before they headlined Slane.

"It is just their way of reaching out and showing support, but this was for both men, back in 2014, and has nothing to do with any court case."

The former two-weight world champion was suing his ex-manager and Cyclone Promotions for alleged withheld earnings.

Mr McGuigan was claiming against the Belfast boxer for breach of contract after their partnership ended in 2017.

The court case was settled on Thursday out of court and Carl Frampton said he was "extremely happy" while Barry McGuigan said his family "can now move forward".