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Frampton-Santa Cruz Rematch Negotiations Underway

Cyclone Promotions are already in talks with Leo Santa Cruz’s team regarding a rubber match against Carl Frampton [23(14)-1(0)].

Santa Cruz [33(18)-1(0)-1] reclaimed the WBA featherweight title against Frampton last month in Las Vegas, avenging his New York defeat last Summer and leveling the scores at 1-1 following what was another close and exciting fight.

Talk of a trilogy fight has been circulating from before the first bell had even rang at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and Frampton has revealed that negotiations are now formally underway with El Terremoto.

Writing in his weekly column for the Sunday Life, Frampton said that “My team are now working on the third fight, they’re in negotiations and whatever happens my next fight will be in Belfast. I’ve been on the road for a long time and my fans, many who can’t afford to travel, deserve the chance to see me fight at home.”

‘The Jackal’ reiterated his respect for the new champion, but also mused that he would lose some of this battle-won respect should he refuse a rematch in the Titanic City. The 29 year old explained that “Leo Santa Cruz is a great guy, the two of us have shown each other respect in two great fights but I feel he will lose some respect if he doesn’t honour his word and fight me in Belfast this summer.”

“I’ve fought Leo twice now in the States. New York for the first fight was a neutral venue but Las Vegas was not a neutral venue, you can drive from Los Angeles to it and he had plenty of Mexican support. That’s what champions do sometimes, they travel so now it’s Leo’s turn to travel.”

“It would complete the trilogy and I know the next time we meet I will have learned from Vegas and I’ll beat him because I’ll box the way I know I can. ”

Frampton acknowledges that an immediate Santa Cruz rematch in Belfast has its stumbling blocks, but the Tigers Bay man is still holding out hope. Frampton described how “I hope he keeps his word but the early noises suggest he won’t be coming and that he wants to have a fight before we meet again. We are looked after by the same American adviser, Al Haymon, so I hope that a deal can be struck for the fight to happen at Windsor Park – what a stage to get the belt back.”

“Al Haymon came into the dressing room and said I was a credit to myself with how I had reacted after the fight and that we’ll do it again.”

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

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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