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“They don’t want to give me a rematch” – Quigg aiming to force Frampton repeat with Santa Cruz win

Scott Quigg [32(24)-1(0)-2] believes that a win over WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz can help secure him the Carl Frampton rematch he so desperately craves.

‘The Jackal’ defeated Quigg last February in Manchester to unify the IBF and WBA super bantamweight titles before moving up to featherweight and trading wins with Santa Cruz [32(18)-1(0)-1].

Quigg, following a lengthy recovery after having his jaw broken by Frampton [23(14)-1(0)], returned in December and moved up to featherweight himself.

Here on the Anthony Joshua v Eric Molina PPV undercard, he defeated Jose Cayetano to win the WBA International rankings belt, which he will defend next month on the Anthony Joshua v Wladimir Klitschko PPV undercard at Wembley Stadium.

This will be his first fight since relocating to Los Angeles to train under Freddie Roach, and the Bury boxer will defend the strap against Viorel Simion of Romania.

A win against the unranked Eastern European should push Quigg, currently placed at number seven, further up the WBA ladder and he is now targeting the organisation’s champion.

Outlining his plan, Quigg told Sky Sports that “there is a lot of good options out there, but the front-runner that I would love to fight would be Santa Cruz,”

Explaining his reasoning, aside from the obvious of winning a world title belt, the Englishman notes how a win over ‘El Terremoto’ would enhance his chances of a Frampton repeat.

Quigg described how “they [Team Frampton] don’t want to give me a rematch, so at the end of the day I’m going to make sure I put myself in the position,”

“I would love to fight Santa Cruz and if I beat Santa Cruz, I’m sure Frampton would want to come and play ball with me again.”

“I will always want to avenge the loss to Frampton and I believe if I get the chance, I will definitely avenge that loss.”

Frampton, after seeing Santa Cruz go back on his promise of a Belfast rematch, will return to the ring this Summer at Windsor Park against a to-be-confirmed opponent which he and his team promise will be a high-level foe.

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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