Santa Cruz: I will come to Belfast and defend against Frampton

LEO Santa Cruz is willing to put his WBC super bantamweight title on the line against Carl Frampton in BELFAST this July.

Carl Frampton secured mandatory status for the Mexican by beating Hugo Cazares in Belfast on April 4. After the clash McGuigan said he was willing to offer Cruz over half a million to defend in Frampton’s home town, but it was widely believed Frampton would have to travel to get a tilt.

There was also a feeling that the undefeated Cruz wasn’t keen on fighting in the summer and had targeted an Autumn return, but when speaking to David Kelly of the Belfast Telegraph Cruz put paid to both the idea he wasn’t willing to fight in Belfast or in the Summer.

The Golden Boy puncher says he is willing to come Belfast in the Summer to defend against ‘The Jackal’.

“I will fight Frampton in Belfast. He is my number-one choice and I want to defend my title in July,” Santa Cruz said. “I will come to Belfast if I get the biggest purse of my career.”

Cruz claims he isn’t worried about entering the Jackal’s Den and even suggested he would stop the former European champion to retain his title.

“I am not worried about fighting in Belfast,” Santa Cruz said. “Carl Frampton is a good fighter but I will punish him to the body, break him up and stop him. The fight won’t go the distance so I don’t need to worry about the judges. I have fought someone like Frampton before so I know how to beat him. I want to defend my title in July and then again in September or October. Another three title defences and then I want to move up to featherweight.”

Cyclone Promotions CEO Barry McGuigan welcomed the news and will travel to America to make the super bantamweight an offer he can’t refuse over the coming weeks.