Leo Santa Cruz believes he needs a near-perfect performance to beat Carl Frampton

They say nobody is perfect, but Leo Santa Cruz [32(18)-1(0)-1] believes he will have to be as close as you can get to perfection to beat Carl Frampton [23(14)-0] in their eagerly anticipated rematch early next year

Santa Cruz lost his unbeaten status, and his WBA featherweight title, when ‘The Jackal’ outpointed him in New York in July.

The three-weight World champion can never get his duck egg back, but he is determined to take back the title and avenge his sole career defeat in Las Vegas on January 28th.

However, the Mexican-American is aware that won’t be easy, and believes he will need a career-best performance to overcome the Belfast great at the MGM Grand.

“Carl Frampton is a great fighter, a great champion, and I know he’s not going to lose that belt easily. He’s going to come in with everything, even better than the first fight so, me, I’ve got to give my best performance and I’ve got to go out there and do everything almost perfectly to get the win,” a very respectful Santa Cruz said in Belfast this week.

While he has lost his perfect record and possession of the featherweight title, Santa Cruz is adamant he hasn’t lost confidence.

“Of course not, no, because I didn’t lose to just anybody, I lost against Carl Frampton – a great fighter, undefeated and I don’t think I lost nothing.”

“It wasn’t my night but for the rematch I’m going to be twice as ready and go out and look for the win this time.”