“I’ll lose respect for him” – Frampton tells Santa Cruz consequences of avoiding third fight

Carl Frampton [23(14)-1(0)] believes Leo Santa Cruz has no valid excuse to turn down a third fight with the only man to beat him.

‘The Jackal’, who had two enthralling bouts with the Mexican-American, was promised a Belfast rematch by Santa Cruz [33(18)-1(0)-1] before he lost the return in Las Vegas earlier this year.

However, the three-weight World champion has since produced a number of reasons for not wanting to travel to the former European and World champion’s back yard, as well as a fight wishliist in which Frampton appears after names like Lee Selby and Abner Mares.

Frampton this week claimed the massive mutual respect the pair have shown will be tainted if his rival elects against a third clash at Windsor this Summer.

Ireland’s second ever two-weight World champ revealed that Cyclone Promotions have offered Santa Cruz a titanic payday to come to the Titanic City. Indeed, he claims the biggest purse of the LA based fighter has been put on the table and, as a result, believes there is no excuse for the clash not to proceed.

“We’re offering him the biggest payday he’s ever had, and more than he’ll get if he fights someone else, to come to Belfast,” Frampton told UTV.

”If he doesn’t come after that, then he’s not a man of his word and I’ll lose respect for him.”

Santa Cruz has claimed that his father fears a bad judging the decision in the current capital of Irish boxing. He could be tempted for another Frampton-Cruz installment Stateside, but the Belfast man is determined to return home to fight in front of the loyal Jackal Army for the first time since he beat Chris Avalos in February 2015.

Team Frampton are looking at a Windsor Park homecoming, and the fighter claims that, if he doesn’t get Santa Cruz, he has other options.

“To have a ring in the centre circle of Windsor Park would be an absolute dream come true for me.”

“We have a couple of dates set aside there so we’ll have to wait and see who the opponent is but I want it to be Santa Cruz and so do the fans.”