Frampton, Santa Cruz Rematch In Talks

The slugfest between Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz in Brooklyn earlier this year may be getting a sequel.

After an exciting, back-and-forth battle at Barclays Center on July 30, the Northern Irish Frampton—a former unified super bantamweight champion who moved up in weight and beat Santa Cruz by majority decision for the WBA featherweight title—and his Mexican rival are closing in on agreeing to have a rematch, Sky Sports reported on Thursday, Sept. 22.

The report cited quotes originally obtained by ESPN Deportes in Spanish from Santa Cruz’s father and trainer, Jose.

“Well, it seems that the plans are going well and (Frampton) will provide a rematch, as my son wanted,” the elder Santa Cruz said. “My son has returned to the gym. He said (the fight) could be in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. Let’s hope so.”

While enthused about visiting and fighting in New York City for the first time leading up to his unsuccessful title defense versus Frampton (23-0, 14 KO), Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KO) and his father are aiming to book the rematch in a venue located in the southwestern United States, where he would have a much stronger following.

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“Leo has not signed anything, but they have already said yes to doing the fight, which will be a direct rematch,” the trainer said. “We are just missing the date and venue, but it would be at the end of the year in one of those two locations.

“The important thing, always, is that the rematch gets done. We’re merely looking over the details, and hopefully it gets done because I know my son is going to beat him.”

Negotiations between the fighters’ camps reportedly began when Leo Santa Cruz, 28, opted to exercise a rematch clause included in the agreement for the first bout.

Prior to Carl Frampton, 29, earning a majority decision over Santa Cruz—scored 117-111, 116-112, 114-114—Santa Cruz entertained questions about his intention to take on other titleholders at 126 pounds down the road, namely IBF champion Lee Selby (23-1, 8 KO) of Barry, Wales.

But then Frampton, known for his high jab output, put those plans on hold. The undefeated champ was the more accurate and sharper puncher when he faced Santa Cruz, landing 242 (or 36 percent) of the 668 punches he threw, per CompuBox stats, during the July 30 bout to earn winning scores on two out of the three judges’ scorecards. Santa Cruz, by comparison, landed a quarter (255) of the punches he threw (1,005) that night.

Regardless of your allegiance, Frampton and Santa Cruz—whose first fight drew a crowd of over 9,000 fans to Barclays Center—possibly coming to blows again in the not-too-distant future is an intriguing prospect.

They’re in their prime, each has won world titles in multiple weight classes, and the pair’s meeting this past summer was immediately considered a candidate for best fight of 2016 amongst those who follow and cover professional boxing.

Should Frampton end the need for a rubber match by coming out on the winning end of a second throwdown with Santa Cruz, he will have elite options to turn his sights toward within and close to the featherweight division.

There is WBC champ Gary Russell, Jr. (27-1, 16 KO), a southpaw from Washington, D.C., as well as Mexico’s hard-hitting Oscar Valdez (20-0, 18 KO), who possesses the WBO belt. Just north of 126 pounds, the top prize is Ukrainian southpaw Vasyl Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KO), who recorded a fifth-round knockout of Roman Martinez of Puerto Rico at Madison Square Garden in June to capture the WBO super featherweight title.

Leo Santa Cruz could put those options in play for himself by avenging his first professional loss, but it is highly doubtful that he will be spending much time answering questions regarding his plans beyond Carl Frampton this time around.

For now, getting and winning a rematch with Frampton is the plan.

[Featured image by Anthony Geathers/Getty Images]