Frampton promising a more comprehensive win in Santa Cruz rematch

While few quibbled with the result of their first fight in July, Carl Frampton is aiming to eliminate any doubt and make it two-nil against Leo Santa Cruz in their rematch in Las Vegas on January 28th

‘The Jackal’ defeated champion Leo Santa Cruz to take the WBA featherweight title in the New York battle on July 30th, winning a majority decision (117-111, 116-112, 114-114). Afterwards Mexican-American Santa Cruz would purport that the ringside judges were influenced by the vocal Frampton support and that he as reigning champion should have been given the nod.

However it was the exciting nature of the Barclays Centre-hosted clash, along with a contractual clause, rather than any controversy regarding the result which drove calls for a repeat.

Frampton told the Belfast Telegraph that “it’s great that the fight is now done, I don’t think there were many who doubted the result but Leo has said he thought he won so it’s my chance to go there and make it two-nil.”

Indeed Frampton feels that he is more versatile and better equipped for the rematch at the MGM Grand and reasoned that “Leo obviously fancies he can get revenge but, like a lot of my opponents, he only knows how to fight the one way. I have Plan A, Plan B and C if I need it and when I face someone a second time I always perform better.”

“I know what to expect from him… it’s the same when I spar and it’ll be the same in this fight, second time around I am more comfortable with whoever I’m facing.”

“Some have said that Santa Cruz could maybe throw more punches but he threw 1,100 so I can’t imagine he can throw more than that.”