Leo Santa Cruz would “love” to fight Carl Frampton in Belfast

Leo Santa Cruz [33(18)-1(0)-1] has restated his desire to come to Belfast and fight Carl Frampton.

The WBA featherweight champion will defend his title in California in October, most likely in a rematch with Abner Mares, but is willing to come to Belfast if issues with his own team are sorted.

Frampton had hoped to fight Santa Cruz at Windsor Park football stadium in a trilogy fight, but the Mexican-American would not travel for a range of reasons, most notably based on his father.

Jose Santa Cruz had feared that they would be subject to unfair judging if they were to come to Belfast, and it later emerged that the trainer also had visa issues which would make the trip difficult.

‘El Terremoto’ has claimed that he is keen to make the trip, and told Villainfy Media that “I would love to go over there but it is not just up to me. It is up to my team and my promoter and also my dad who can’t travel because he has no visa right now.”

“We’re going to fix that first then I would love to go over there.”

Considering his two previous fights with The Jackal, as well as claims that he had avoided Andres Gutierrez, Santa Cruz would have been an interested observer at the weekend. However, the Frampton-Gutierrez fight would not take place due to a freak injury suffered by the Mexican.

Hours beforehand, Frampton had missed weight by pound, but Santa Cruz refused to stick the boot in.

He outlined how “I was surprised, moving up from 122lbs to 126lbs and him not making weight,” he added.

“I don’t know if there were problems and it distracted him.”

“If it had been me I would have to have been something big so I wouldn’t make weight – maybe he missed some training, maybe it was some family problems”

“Carl Frampton is a responsible guy, he works hard, it must have been something big.”

Watch Leo Santa Cruz’s interview with Villainfy Media below: