Leo Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) is going to defend his WBA Super featherweight title against former WBA Super World super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs) on July 30 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. The 27-year-old Mexican champion has at least one person who believes he’ll defeat the Irish superstar.
Per Sky Sports, former Frampton foe and former WBA Super World super bantamweight titlist Scott Quigg said:
“I think Frampton gets beat. It’s not me being bitter because he got the win over me. I just think, having been in there with him, if I’d have started faster everyone said I’d have won the fight. I think Santa Cruz is a bit bigger than me and he’ll start off like a train and it’s whether or not Frampton can out-box him for 12 rounds. What surprised me when I was in with him was his power. He wasn’t the thunderous puncher he’s got a bit of a reputation for being. If he can’t put a dent in Santa Cruz he is going to be in for a very tough fight.”
Frampton won a tight split decision over Quigg in February to unify the WBA and IBF super bantamweight titles. Now he’s looking to go up in weight to take on the rugged and busy Santa Cruz.
Naturally, one might think to dismiss Quigg’s support of Santa Cruz as indirect hate for Frampton. After all, the loss he suffered to the Jackal was hotly contested and somewhat controversial.
Still, it would seem Quigg’s analysis and prediction has some merit. He has fought Frampton for 12 rounds, thus he knows his power. Santa Cruz has proven to be a sturdy featherweight having taking some good shots from Kiko Martinez in his last successful title defense.
As the naturally bigger man, Santa Cruz would appear to have the advantage on paper. However, as we know, fights aren’t contested in that matter. Frampton is a skilled and athletically gifted boxer whose fame has continued to grow over the past four years.
In his win over Quigg, he was able to match punches with a fighter who most consider his athletic equal, despite the fact that Frampton got the nod from two of the three judges.
Frampton has had some wobbly moments, such as his bout against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. in July 2015 when he was dropped twice before winning a unanimous decision, but he’s remained undefeated.
We’ll see if he can find the same success at a new weight class against a formidable champion.
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.
