Frampton seeking history at Barclays
Carl Frampton has a chance to make history as the first boxer from Northern Ireland to win world titles in two different weight classes. His roadblock, Leo Santa Cruz, is the favorite to retain the WBA featherweight (126pound) title Frampton is vying for.
Frampton’s camp believes their man is the toughest opponent Santa Cruz will have faced when the two step into the ring Saturday night at Barclays Center with the featherweight belt on the line. Neither fighter has lost in his professional career (Santa Cruz is 320-1 with 18 KOs, Frampton is 22-0 with 14 KOs), so Saturday will bring the first blemish to a either’s flawless résumé.
“I believe movement gives him trouble and guys that are fast, and Carl’s got both of those in abundance,” said Shane McGuigan, Frampton’s trainer. “And he’s accurate and got good timing as well.”
Santa Cruz isn’t exactly a giant that Frampton can get under — the Mexico native is just over 5foot-7, and Frampton is 5-foot-5 — though his reach is seven inches longer (69 inches to 62), which gives Santa Cruz an advantage from an attacking standpoint. Still, Frampton’s manager, boxing Hall of Famer Barry McGuigan, Shane’s father, promised a Frampton win in part because he “punches like a motherf–ker.”
Frampton’s camp tried to set up a fight with Santa Cruz when both were super bantamweights, but nothing materialized. Now, Frampton gets his chance as the underdog with a landmark achievement on the line.
“This fight makes me a superstar, I think,” he said. “I want to make history here.”