By Edward Chaykovsky
Earlier this month, Showtime announced that a deal was reached in principle for a late summer showdown between unbeaten champions 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.
According to information received by the Belfast Telegraph, Frampton has yet to notify the IBF of his move to jump up on weight to challenge Santa Cruz for his featherweight title.
Frampton is obligated to make a mandatory defense against Shingo Wake of Japan, so either he has to vacate and officially move up or inform the sanctioning body that he intends to move forward with Wake.
It could be a strategic move by Team Frampton, to avoid dropping the belt before all of the terms are agreed upon and the contracts are signed. But both boxers are advised by Al Haymon and finalizing the terms should not be an issue.
“We have not been officially informed of Carl Frampton’s decision. As far as we know, he will do the IBF mandatory,” IBF Chairman Lindsey Tucker told the paper. “Under IBF Rules, if the title is vacant, we order the two highest ranked available contenders to fight for the title (Wake and Rey Vargas)."
Frampton will likely have to return to the United States for Santa Cruz. 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.
