Tentatively scheduled for Saturday, July 30, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, former WBA World and current IBF World super bantamweight champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs), from Belfast, Northern Ireland, moves up in weight to challenge WBA Super featherweight champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) from Rosemead, California, by way of Huetamo, Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico, in a multi-million dollar showdown.
Frampton’s promoter, Barry McGuigan of Cyclone Promotions, confirmed the news Friday night.
He told the Belfast Telegraph, “We’re delighted that we have got the deal done for the fight with Santa Cruz. It’s a huge fight and these are the kind of fights that Carl wants to be in.
“I am convinced that it’s going to be the fight that everybody hoped the Quigg fight would be. Santa Cruz never stops throwing punches so Carl is going to have to be in the shape of his life and he will be.
“It’s a really hard fight because Santa Cruz is a formidable fighter, a world champion at three weights but I am convinced Carl can win.”
Twenty-nine-year-old Frampton unified the WBA and IBF titles in February when he decisioned Quigg in Manchester. Frampton’s mandatory was WBA champion in recess Guillermo Rigondeaux, the wily southpaw from Guantanamo, Cuba. Frampton didn’t want to fight Rigondeaux and was stripped of his WBA title. He has since moved up in weight in order to fight Santa Cruz at super feather.
Santa Cruz, 27, is a three-weight world champion and currently holds the WBA Super and WBC featherweight crowns. Very skilled and durable, Frampton won’t have to go looking for “Terremoto.” He’ll be right there, looking for Carl Frampton.
“I’m excited that the fight has been made,” said Frampton. “It has been talked about for a few years now and it is great that the fight will take place in New York.
“This is the fight that I have wanted for a while now and I am just delighted that the deal has been done and we will finally meet in the ring.”
Unlike Quigg and Rigondeaux, “Santa Cruz comes forward and throws loads of punches. He will come to fight and put on more of a show than Scott Quigg—who didn’t want to know for the first six rounds of our fight.
“Santa Cruz is tough. He is a three weight world champion but I am confident of winning the fight.
“This is the biggest fight of my career and this is the kind of fight that creates legacies.”
If Frampton beats Santa Cruz, he’ll be the first boxer from Northern Ireland to hold titles at different weights.
This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.
