Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
LEO’S LINING UP THIRD CARL DATE
LEO SANTA CRUZ says he wants a trilogy fight with Carl Frampton - and is confident it will be made in 2019.
Frampton (above) became a two-weight world champion when he defeated Santa Cruz in New York to claim the WBA Super featherweight title in July 2016.
The Mexican exacted revenge in January last year in Las Vegas to reclaim the belt
and now fans want a third ‘decider’.
Frampton has been calling out for the fight ever since suffering his sole professional defeat to
Santa Cruz at the MGM Grand.
There was initial talk of a third bout taking place in Belfast but Santa Cruz and his camp then cooled on the idea of travelling across the Atlantic.
Since then The Jackal has earned points wins over Horacio Garcia and Nonito Donaire before last month stopping the previously unbeaten Australian Luke Jackson at Windsor Park.
The Belfastman, 31, is next set to face an IBF featherweight title fight with Englishman Josh Warrington before the end of the year – possibly in Manchester. Since his win over Frampton, Santa Cruz has claimed a knockout win over Chris Avalos and a unanimous points success over Abner Mares. The California-based Mexican is now back in training for a fight against an as yet unnamed opponent later this year.
And Santa Cruz says his sights are firmly on old rival Frampton after that.
“Right now, we don’t have any opponent. But I want to fight one more time this year, in November,” Santa Cruz told Fighthype.
“I don’t think it will be against any other champion. I think Oscar Valdez is fighting in November and Carl Frampton has just fought too. I don’t care who I fight.
“If I get the win, I want to fight Carl Frampton. People want that fight. I want that fight and Carl Frampton wants that fight. I want to make that third fight against him.”