A little over three years ago Carl Frampton defeated Kiko Martínez on a bitterly cold night in Belfast to become a world champion for the first time. He walked into the post-fight press conference wearing a Santa suit and a shiny new IBF belt, looking as content with life as a young man could be. That was Frampton back then, his manner upbeat, his delivery fresh, his outlook positive. He was 27 years old, unbeaten and each step he took was forward and into a wonderful unknown.

I’ve spoken with him many times since that night. I’ve watched him train, sat ringside at his fights and spent the day with him when he defeated Scott Quigg in their great domestic showdown in 2016. His natural, understated charisma means he is always engaging but it was hard not to sense a creeping despondency as each fight came and went. At times his default manner was more downbeat, his delivery a little stale, his outlook apparently neutral at best.

“For two years all I’ve been talking about is retiring,” he now concedes. “It was about getting enough money to pack it all in, hang up the gloves and never think about boxing again. Even in those massive fights I was involved in, I was just thinking about the exit strategy, just counting down the days. That’s a bit sad really when you think about.”

Sad and also surprising to a boxing public that looked in from afar on a successful fighter and what appeared to be a close and mutually beneficial relationship with the McGuigan family who managed Frampton’s boxing affairs via Cyclone Promotions. As late as this May, a BBC documentary on the Cyclone team seemed to confirm as much, but clearly some underlying issues were kept from the camera’s glare.

Carl Frampton celebrating with his former trainer Shane McGiugan after his victory against Léo Santa Cruz in July 2016. Photograph: Anthony Geathers/Getty Images

Everything came to a head in late July in the run-up to Frampton’s homecoming fight with Andrés Gutiérrez. In one crazy week, Frampton resigned his directorship of Cyclone Promotions and uncharacteristically missed weight before his opponent took a tumble in the hotel bathroom and forced the cancellation of the entire show. It was a bizarre series of events, but close observers noted that the frostiness in the body language between boxer and team was strangest of all. Three weeks later, Frampton announced the split.

“There’s not much I can say about it all at this stage, but the split certainly didn’t happen because of the Gutiérrez fight falling through. There were other factors involved. I resigned the directorship because there was never any need for me to be on it. Then I missed the weight. It was accidental, but unprofessional. Maybe everything that was going on in my head and all the distractions played a part. Then he goes and falls in the shower and Twitter starts going mad with conspiracy stories and I was like, Jesus Christ…”

Boxing breakups are rarely amicable and it remains to be seen how this one plays out. Cyclone have remained largely silent, while Frampton plays each question on the divorce with a straight bat. Neither have spoken to each other directly since the day of the cancelled fight. Instead, solicitors are trying to reach an agreement to satisfy all parties and avoid the spectacle of a public court case and all the mud-slinging associated with such messy affairs. If it doesn’t make it up the courthouse steps then we may never know the ins and outs, but if history has taught us anything, monies owed one way or another will be the deal-breaker.

“It happened and now I’m moving on,” are his final words on the subject. And he is moving on fast. As one of the world’s most marketable fighters, Frampton entertained several suitors for each role in his new set-up. At this stage of his career they were big decisions, but he made the process very simple: “I looked at the offers on the table and chose the two best ones, simple as that.”

MTK were announced as advisors, a job title expected to change to managers when the termination of the Cyclone management contract is confirmed. A promotional deal was signed with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions and BT Sport. Al Haymon and Luis DeCubas were also kept on as American advisors. There is probably no better trio to help Frampton achieve his twin goals of regaining a world title and fighting at Windsor Park.

Carl Frampton kisses Shane McGuigan in celebration after a points victory over Scott Quigg in 2016. Photograph: Alex Livesey/Getty Images

The other huge appointment was that of a trainer to replace Shane, the youngest of the McGuigan boys who guided Frampton between the ropes since that first Martínez fight over four and a half years ago. “I was scratching my head a bit because there are only a handful of top quality professional coaches in the UK. It was actually my da who suggested Jamie so I stopped in on him on my way to see two other trainers. We gelled straight away and I just knew.”

Jamie is Jamie Moore, the former British, Commonwealth and European super welterweight champion from Salford who is currently training Martin Murray, Rocky Fielding and Tommy Coyle. An affable and genuine character, he clicked with Frampton instantly.

“I know this sounds like a cliché after joining up with a new trainer,” says Frampton. “But for the first time in a couple of years I’m genuinely enjoying boxing again. He’s got good guys in the gym and his No2 Travis Nigelson is the maddest character I’ve ever met – but in a good way. It’s fun again, good craic. And listen, boxing is a tough enough game as it is so if you’re not enjoying yourself then it’s a nightmare.”

And you can hear it in his voice. It’s Frampton from 2014 again, visibly excited and enthusiastic to talk about what lies ahead in the gym and ring. The change of trainer has clearly reinvigorates him. “At the age of 30 I need a quality over quantity approach to training. Shane is a quality coach and he played his part in helping me win big fights on nights I’ll never forget. But every session is balls to the wall with Shane.”

“Jamie, on the other hand, knows not every day needs to be so tough. My engine is already there, built up over the years. It just needs revved up. I don’t want to be wearing myself out or peaking in the gym and leaving my best performance there.”

“Jamie is more technical on the pads as well, drilling techniques into my head until I have them perfect. There is lots of repetition, spending whole sessions on a handful of combinations. And it’s working. I dropped a kid with a body shot in my first spar and very nearly did the same with the second guy. I’ve dropped people before in sparring, but always going for the head. Two spars in with Jamie and he has converted me into a typical Manc body puncher.”

The other big change is in the quantity of sparring Frampton is now packing into each camp, dropping from more than 200 rounds against fighters from higher weight classes down to around 120. “With Shane I’d do over 200 rounds a camp with bigger guys. I did enjoy it but I can see now it was too much. I was sparring 10 weeks out when most boxers don’t even have a 10-week camp! You’re wearing head guards and bigger gloves, but that’s still a lot of punishment – a lot of blows to the head.”

Was the decision to reduce his sparring regime related to worries about brain injury? “I’m not actually worried about brain damage or anything like that – if I was then I’d be in the wrong game – but I’ve a missus and kids so boxing isn’t everything to me. I’m not walking into spars thinking, flip me I hope I don’t get punched in the head today, but there’s nothing wrong with thinking logically about the risks involved and taking a more sensible approach. Basically, there’s just no need for me to be sparring as much as I have done in the past.”

Frampton is now due out in Belfast on 18 November against Mexican fighter Horacio García, headlining a bill that includes Jamie Conlan’s world title shot against Jerwin Ancajas. Any fight involving Frampton is a massive event and there is a real sense of homecoming with it being his first bout in Northern Ireland in two and half years. But while García, 33-3-1 and never stopped, is no gift, this fight is about shaking off the ring rust before what promises to be a massive 2018.

Carl Frampton lost for the first time in his career against Léo Santa Cruz earlier this year. Photograph: John Locher/AP

“I keep saying it, but the dream is still the big fight at Windsor Park. I want the third fight with Léo Santa Cruz for that and, if not that, then maybe Lee Selby or Óscar Valdez. Gary Russell Jr is the other champ and Josh Warrington is another option. But Josh has a tough fight against Dennis Ceylan to win first and he is looking for a world title fight so would he risk it all against me if I don’t yet have the belt?”

“I’ve noticed Valdez mentioning me more recently and that would be a great fight. He can obviously punch and he’s dangerous, but he looks like he’s there to be hit. It’s such a tough division that there are great fights to be made even against the guys with no belt. Abner Mares is just one example. We’ll see what happens.”

We will, and the boxing world should rejoice at that fact. From constant talk of retirement, Frampton is now contemplating another five years of action. His wife Christine may have shot that idea down, tweeting “35, my arse”, but Frampton fans can realistically expect another two or three years of big nights at home and abroad. World title fights are as good as guaranteed and a step up to 130lb is not entirely out of the question. A title in that third weight class and he’d surely be the greatest Irish fighter ever. Retirement could then be taken with a satisfied smile.