Leo Santa Cruz denies that he is underestimating Carl Frampton

Leo Santa Cruz has denied Carl Frampton’s assertion that the Mexican-American is overlooking ‘The Jackal’ ahead of their WBA title clash in New York at the weekend.

The two face off on Saturday night in the Barclays Centre and Frampton has said during the lead up that he feels that he is being overlooking by the reigning champ, something which he welcomes.

Speaking yesterday to Sports Illustrated ahead of the Showtime/Boxnation-aired bout, El Terremoto stated that he is certainly not underestimating the Belfast man, and gave his own theory as to why Frampton is feeling underestimated.

Santa Cruz reasoned that “maybe because a while ago they [media] asked me who I wanted to fight after this fight.”

“I said ‘hopefully God I first want to get the win in this fight and I would like to fight Lee Selby.'”

“I think that maybe he took it the wrong way, but I never said that”

“I said I want to focus on this fight first and then, if everything goes good, I want a Lee Selby fight, that’s all I said.”

Indeed the three-weight World champ doubts if Frampton himself even believes that he is being overlooked and claimed that it is all mind games.

“I think that’s what he’s trying to do, trying to get in my head and distract me, but that’s not going to happen.”