Carl Frampton tops Leo Santa Cruz in terrific fight; how about a rematch?

Carl Frampton tops Leo Santa Cruz in terrific fight; how about a rematch?

Carl Frampton wants to become known as the greatest fighter ever to have come out of Ireland, and last night, with his terrific win over an excellent defending champion in Leo Santa Cruz, “The Jackal” took one huge stride towards achieving his goal. Out-pointing the relentless defending WBA featherweight champion, Frampton boxed superbly and he is now a two-weight world ruler. All congratulations and respect go out to Frampton and he will now head back to a hero’s reception in Belfast.

The big question is what next for Frampton, and Santa Cruz? Last night’s fight was all that is great about boxing: two fine, unbeaten athletes in their prime, exchanging quality punches throughout, not a clinch in sight, the fans thrilled to the very end. And the final result of the fight was hanging in the balance until the very end – or so we thought. Once again – and not at all wanting to rain on Frampton’s parade – the boxing judges came close to spoiling a magical occasion. As it turned out, only one of the three officials had the fight hanging in the balance until the very end. Was Frampton really a 4-point winner? A SIX-point winner! No way. The draw handed in by the third official was more on the money, and it really was quite staggering hearing how one judge had Santa Cruz winning just three rounds!

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So, is the David Haye – Shannon Briggs fight still going to happen?

So, is the David Haye - Shannon Briggs fight still going to happen?

Shannon Briggs is certainly persistent. Having been chasing David Haye for a few months now – crashing the former WBA heavyweight champ’s press conferences, turning up at his gym in London and finally fighting on his under-card – Briggs was in hot pursuit of Haye last night in New York. The vocal, “Let’s Go, Champ” 44-year-old turned up at the Carl Frampton-Leo Santa Cruz fight at The Barclays Centre and he chased after Haye upon seeing his ring target.

Haye tried his best to ignore his tormentor, but on thing is clear: Briggs is not going to go away. But does Haye still like the idea of swapping bombs with “The Cannon?” The last we heard, when the two former champs blew away mismatched opposition in May, the two would clash in London, probably in September. Since then……nothing, at least nothing from Haye. Briggs is on social media at every opportunity calling for the fight and shortly after the passing of the great Muhammad Ali, Briggs vowed to KO Haye in one-round in honour of “The Greatest.”

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Antonio Orozco defeats Abner Lopez

INDIO, CALIF. (July 30, 2016) – The Coachella Valley was treated to night of action at Fantasy Springs Resort Casino featuring number one rated super lightweight contender by the WBC, “Relentless” Antonio Orozco (25-0, 16 KOs) taking on Abner “Jaeger” Lopez (25-6, 19 KOs), of Tijuana, Baja California, Mexico in a 10-round super lightweight main event live on HBO Latino® Boxing.

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Results: Frampton defeats Santa Cruz; Garcia stops Rojas

Results: Frampton defeats Santa Cruz; Garcia stops Rojas

(Photo credit: Amanda Westcott/SHOWTIME) BROOKLYN (July 31, 2016) – In a possible “Fight of the Year” showdown between two undefeated fighters, Carl Frampton edged Leo Santa Cruz in a firefight to capture the WBA Featherweight World Championship in the main event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® Saturday in front of 9,062 fans at the electric Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs), the former unified super bantamweight champion who moved up to 126 pounds to challenge Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KOs), became the first native of Northern Ireland to become a two-division world champion.

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Results: Warrington TKOs Hyland; Whyte defeats Allen

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By Jeff Moore: In the main event, featherweight contender Josh Warrington (24-0, 5 KOs) defeated Patrick Hyland (31-3, 15 KOs) by a 9th round knockout on Saturday night at the First Direct Arena in Leeds, UK. Warrington put Hyland down three times in the fight with an accumulation of head blows.

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Jessie Vargas wants Pacquiao

Jessie Vargas wants Pacquiao

He may have lost out on a big unification meeting with IBF champ Kell Brook, but reigning WBO welterweight champion Jessie Vargas believes he is on the verge of a much bigger fight: one with the soon to return Manny Pacquiao. As fans have read, superstar Pacquiao is, according to his promoter Bob Arum, set to return to action in November, in Las Vegas. Vargas, 27-1(10) and beaten only by Pacquiao common opponent Tim Bradley, told media members in Vegas yesterday how he feels he is very close to getting the Nov. 5 date with Pac-Man.

“I am the WBO welterweight champion and he wants to return to fight for this belt,” Vargas said as quoted by The National. “The fight is still under negotiation and I can say that soon we will announce it, although I do not want to advance because in boxing everything can change every minute. Manny has never faced someone like me. I’m at my best, I have several advantages. I’m taller and faster than him. I’m a really smart fighter too. I not only want to face him but I want to beat him. Juan Manuel Marquez did it and I want to beat him too, mainly because at his best he gave many headaches to Mexico fighters.”

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Adonis Stevenson proves he is the most exciting light-heavyweight today

Adonis Stevenson proves he is the most exciting light-heavyweight today

(Photo credit: Dave Nadkarni/Premier Boxing Champions) WBC light-heavyweight king Adonis Stevenson last night retained his belt, the one he won in crushing fashion against Chad Dawson back in June of 2013, for the seventh time and what a thrilling fight he and his challenger Thomas Williams Junior put on in Quebec City. A sizzling slugfest the type fans love, Stevenson’s 4th-round KO over Williams Jr gave us plenty of terrific exchanges, switches in momentum and then, courtesy of “Superman’s” explosive left hand, a KO of The Year candidate.

Stevenson, now 28-1(23) proved in the all-southpaw battle that he is the most exciting light-heavyweight out there today. The 38-year-old (39 in September) might not be the best – and if he does face the winner of November’s Sergey Kovalev-Andre Ward showdown, Stevenson will likely enter the ring as an underdog – but his blend of raw power, speed and willingness to rumble, combined with his often leaky defence and decent but not great chin, make Stevenson so compelling to watch.

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Charles Martin: is there any way back for him, do fans really care?

Charles Martin: is there any way back for him, do fans really care?

The above headline may seem a little harsh, but after the quite pathetic looking showing he gave against Anthony Joshua in April, fans have every right to have lost most, if not all interest in one “Prince” Charles Martin. Making the first defence of the IBF heavyweight title he was deemed by many to have been fortunate to win when Vyascheslav Glazkov’s knee blew out in a fight between the two that contested the recently vacated strap, Martin offered almost nothing against the big Brit known as A.J.

Martin was reportedly paid handsomely for his short, 2-rounds, night of work, and many fans felt they’d probably seen the last of Martin. But no, the former champ is set to get back into training in early August, with a couple of return fights being looked at before the humbled fighter who, before the Joshua debacle said he “walks this earth like a God,” hopes to get back to the top next year. This is the plan according to Martin’s manager, Mike Boroa, who outlined these plans to RingTV.com.

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Stevenson KOs Williams Jr; Alvarez beats Berridge

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QUEBEC CITY (July 30, 2016) – Light heavyweight world champion Adonis “Superman” Stevenson (28-1, 23 KOs) delivered a highlight reel knockout victory over Thomas “Top Dogg” Williams Jr. (20-2, 14 KOs) in the fourth-round of an exciting main event showdown on Premier Boxing Champions on Spike Friday night from Centre Videotron in Quebec City, Canada.

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