THE contrasting styles of Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz promise another memorable rumble at the MGM Grand Garden in Last Vegas on Saturday night.
Santa Cruz, now the challenger, is a come-forward, pressure fighter who throws relentless barrages of punches while Frampton is a box-fighter and counter-puncher who is comfortable operating on the back foot.
Former featherweight world champions Colin McMillan and Steve Robinson came across both styles and many others over their lengthy careers and McMillan
warns that there are “intangibles” that will also have an impact on the outcome this weekend.
The Londoner finished with a 31-4 record and was WBO king back in 1992 while Cardiff’s ‘Cinderella Man’ Robinson ended up with a 32-17-2 card after a career that included tear-ups with the likes of Prince Naseem and Scott Harrison.
‘Sweet C’ McMillan beat Maurizio Stecca to win the title back and, just like that, he lost it in his first defence.
“I always say that boxing is a mental game – the mental part is key,” he told The Irish News.
“After I won my world championship, it was hard to get myself in gear mentally for the next fight. You’re so up for winning that world title and I found it harder to remain champion than become champion.
“Carl has won two world titles and maintaining that hunger is crucial. Hopefully he can do that.”
McMillan sees another Frampton win on Saturday night.
“I fancy Carl and a little bit more decisively than last time,” he said.
“Last time Santa Cruz was the favourite but I think Carl knows he has the power to hurt him now and he’ll match him in condition.
“He’ll bit a bit more confident and, although I don’t think it will be easy, I think it’ll be a bit more decisive than last time.
“Last time Santa Cruz’s dad had cancer and he was preoccupied with that so you don’t know if that was a factor in his performance. There are so many intangibles but it was his first loss so he is going to be up for trying to get his belt back.
“He’ll have doubts in his mind but sometimes that’s what makes a champion. He’s a three-weight world champion already and sometimes you’ve got to come back from adversity. He lost, but the mark of a good champion is coming back next time.
“He has a point to prove and he has the ability to do it but it’s going to be hard for him I think.”
Meanwhile, Robinson sees Frampton edging another nail-biter in ‘Sin City’. He predicts that Santa Cruz will try and force the pace second time out.
“I think it’s going to be a close fight again, very interesting – I’ll go with Frampton to edge it but I wouldn’t be surprised if it was a draw,” he said.
“I think Santa Cruz will be more up for the fight now and obviously he wants to win his title back. Carl is a good fighter, but I think it’s going to be very close.
“I think Santa Cruz will be a bit more aggressive and use his size more and push him around.”
A Frampton win could set up a summer unification clash with IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby and Robinson feels his fellow countryman could end ‘the Jackal’s’ winning run.
“Selby is a big featherweight,” he said.
“It would be hard to pick, but I might just go for Selby in that one.”
