Carl Frampton promises Belfast fight next

It will be Belfast next, no matter what, for former WBA featherweight champion Carl Frampton [23(14)-1(0)].

Frampton lost his title at the weekend in Las Vegas at the weekend in a rematch with Leo Santa Cruz and talk has immediately turned to a potential third fight.

Despite the Mexican-American saying that he will rematch Frampton in Belfast, most are confident that Santa Cruz will not be making the transatlantic trip.

While Frampton wants to fight Santa Cruz next, fighting in Belfast is more important and, Santa Cruz or no Santa Cruz, his next outing will be in the Titanic City – where he feels unbeatable.

‘The Jackal’ told told BBC Sport that “if I can get Leo Santa Cruz, and I can get him in Belfast, I do not believe there is a man in and around this weight division who could beat me in Belfast. Hopefully Santa Cruz can come – I don’t know if he will.”

“My next fight will be in Belfast, no matter who it is against.”

Understandably disappointed, Frampton put on a brave face and still met with fans yesterday to thank them. The 29 year old noted how “t’ll probably take me a while to get over it [the loss] if I’m being honest. It’s never going to be easy but look, you just have to forget about these things. This is sport, people lose sometimes in sport. It’s about how you come back, and if I believe I can come back stronger.”

“I’m disappointed, I’m disappointed for myself, I’m disappointed for my fans, but listen, they were outstanding and I’m very, very thankful. I want to keep being involved in big fights and big memorable nights. I just hope everyone enjoyed themselves and I hope that they remember it for a very long time.”

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Eric Donovan joins Gavan Casey and Joe O’Neill on Episode 2 of the Irish Boxing Show: