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Carl Frampton-Leo Santa Cruz rematch close

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The father and trainer of Leo Santa Cruz has revealed that a rematch between his son and Belfast’s Carl Frampton is close to being agreed.

Jose Santa Cruz has spoken of how the negotiations are going well and the return leg of the Fight of the Year candidate is set to take place in December in either Las Vegas or challenger Santa Cruz’s home city of Los Angeles.

‘The Jackal’ claimed Santa Cruz’s WBA featherweight title in an exciting affair at the Barclays Centre in New York back in July. The majority-decision win for Frampton was questioned by the deposed champion in subsequent weeks who felt that a pro-Frampton crowd swayed judges who themselves should have given him the benefit of the doubt as reigning champion.

Santa Cruz Sr told ESPN Deportes that “it seems that the plans are going well and Frampton will provide a direct rematch as my son wanted.”

“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.”

‘El Terremoto’ has recently restarted training following his first career loss and the Mexican-American three-weight World champion is desperate for the rematch to take place even closer to home. José, who thankfully is well on the way to recovery following bone cancer, explained how “my son has returned to the gym. He said it could be in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. Let’s hope so.”

“Truthfully, it’s very important to me that the fight is going to be in either Las Vegas or Los Angeles.”

In terms of the boxing rumour mill, there are whisperings that the fight will take place in Vegas on December 3rd, while there is also talk that the bout has already been confirmed for Los Angeles.

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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