When they met at the end of July, featherweights Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz gave us a truly great fight, one that is sure to figure prominently when the plaudits go out for the 2016 Fight of The Year. Now, after trading leather for 12 thrilling rounds in New York, the two are close to doing it all again. Frampton took the WBC 126-pound crown from Mexican warrior Santa Cruz, becoming the first man to beat him. In the process, Frampton became a two-weight king and an absolute legend in Ireland.
Santa Cruz has activated the rematch clause that was in place ahead of the first fight and now, Jose Santa Cruz says the return could happen before the end of the year.
“Well, it seems that the plans are going well and [Frampton] will provide a direct rematch as my son wanted,” Jose said to ESPN Deportes. “My son has returned to the gym. He said it could be in Las Vegas or in Los Angeles. Leo has not signed anything but they have already said yes to doing the fight, which will be a direct rematch. We are just missing the date and venue but it would be the end of the year in one of those two locations. Truthfully, it’s very important to me that the fight is going to be in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.”
Frampton, unbeaten and soon to grace the front cover of Ring Magazine, has gone on record as saying he can beat Santa Cruz “wherever the fight is held.” Frampton wants the return, and he has also said he wants in before the Christmas holidays. So, it seems both fighters are happy to get it on again before 2016 comes to an end. The fans will be the real winners, especially if fight-two is as good as, or, dare we be greedy, even better than the first fight!
If Santa Cruz, who craves revenge, can reverse majority the decision that went against him, we could even be heading towards a great, great trilogy. Fans witnessed boxing at its best on July 30. Hopefully we will see another example of this perfection in November or December time.