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Frampton-Santa Cruz unlikely with Mares rematch looming

On Saturday night in the Staples Centre in Los Angeles, Mexican-Americans Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares engaged in an all-out war. Over 2,000 punches were traded in a close fight, and after twelve action-packed rounds Santa Cruz’s hand was raised as the deserved winner.

IBF super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton would have been an interested onlooker, with ‘The Jackal’ previously stating that he wanted a fight with the winner.

However the Belfast man will most likely have to wait to get his hands on Santa Cruz as the stage now looks set for a rematch between the Latino pair.

Immediately after the bout, Mares expressed his displeasure with the majority decision loss. The 29 year old claimed that “it was a close fight, but I thought I won the fight. I thought I pulled it off.”

The former three-weight World Champion now wants to do it all again, stating that “I’d be more than willing to do a rematch. He knows it was a close fight.”

Leo Santa Cruz was non-committal to trading leather with Mares again, believing that “the fans are the ones that have to choose that.”

‘El Terremoto’ explained that “if the fans want a rematch, I’m willing.”

Indeed a rematch always seemed likely according to Santa Cruz who elaborated: “Like I said in the beginning, I knew if I had lost, I would have wanted a rematch and if he lost, he would want it.”

“Whatever happens, happens.”

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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