CARL Frampton’s eagerly-awaited rematch with Leo Santa Cruz is set for January 28 next year at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
While broadcaster Showtime had not confirmed it, The Irish News understands that the MGM - the venue for a catalogue of stellar fights including Tyson-Holyfield I and II, De La Hoya-Mayweather, Mayweather-Pacquiao – will host Frampton-Santa Cruz II with Mexican Santa Cruz hoping to win back the WBA featherweight title Belfast’s ‘Jackal’ won off him in July.
The card will also feature Mikey Garcia and Dejuan Zlaticanin for the WBC World Lightweight title.
Back in July, Frampton, then the challenger, won a deserved majority decision at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn when he took on California-based Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight crown.
Santa Cruz threw a relentless blizzard of punches – more than 1100 over the 12 rounds – but Frampton’s footwork and boxing brain kept him out of trouble and he landed the cleaner shots to become only the second Irish fighter to win world titles at two weights.
He had Santa Cruz in serious trouble in the second round and is confident he can stop him when they meet again early next year.
“I would be confident (of winning) because the simple fact is that Santa Cruz can’t fight any other way and I’ve seen what he can do,” ‘the Jackal’ told The Irish News this week.
“He talks about coming out and throwing more punches but he threw over 1100 punches in that fight. How can he throw any more? If he does, it’s not going to be a lot more.”
He added: “I could have been punishing him a lot more than what I was and I think I will in the next fight. I don’t like to make predictions but it could be a stoppage.”
