By Edward Chaykovsky

Last week, Showtime announced that a deal was reached in principle for a late summer showdown between Leo Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) and Carl Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs).

Frampton, who holds the WBA/IBF title at super bantamweight, would move up to 126-pounds to challenge Santa Cruz for the WBA (super) featherweight title.

Both boxers were in action on the same day last month. Santa Cruz stopped Kiko Martin in five rounds in California, while Frampton won a twelve round decision over domestic rival Scott Quigg in Manchester.

When speaking a few days ago to the Belfast Telegraph, Frampton discussed his desire to bring Santa Cruz to Belfast, but he has serious doubts that he'll come over. Both boxers are advised by Al Haymon. More than likely Frampton will have to return to the United States. He made his American debut last year. Things did not go as expected in that bout, as he survived two knockdowns in the first round to win a twelve round unanimous decision over Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. in El Paso, Texas.

If he does have to travel over to America, that is no problem for Frampton.

"That's the fight we want, Leo Santa Cruz," Frampton told Sky Sports News HQ. "It's up a weight division, so we'll have to move up to featherweight but it's about securing a legacy now. I want to be a two-weight world champion.

 "I think me against Santa Cruz is a very crowd-pleasing fight, I would like it in Belfast, if it's going to be the next fight it could be in the summer, but we may have to travel. But that's fine too, I will fight him anywhere."