Leo Santa Cruz: record, next fight and profile →
Leo Santa Cruz reclaimed the World Boxing Association featherweight world title Saturday, handing Carl Frampton the first defeat of his career and avenging his 2016 loss to the Northern Ireland star.
By Rick Reeno - MGM Grand, Las Vegas - In yet another action-packed fight, Leo Santa Cruz (33-1-1, 18 KOs) got revenge with a twelve round majority decision over previously undefeated Carl Frampton (23-1, 14 KOs) to capture the WBA featherweight title. The scores were 114-114, 115-113, 115-113. They...
Frampton vs. Santa Cruz LIVE SCORECARD - LAS VEGAS - The stage is set for the Premier Boxing Champions event later tonight from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas and live on SHOWTIME.
Leo Santa Cruz ranks #2 on CompuBox Categorical Leaders list in total punches landed, total punches thrown and power punches landed. Frampton opponents landed just 12.6 punhces per round and just 23.2% of their total punches.
Frampton won a majority decision from Santa Cruz in their first fight, one so good the two men decided not to waste any time doing it again. The fighter from Northern Ireland will be defending the title Saturday night at the MGM Grand resort, and this time he will be the only undefeated fighter in the ring.
The easiest road to a rematch, the one we probably expect more, is the sequel meant to resolve a controversy. One fighter or another loses a nail biter, or the public cries foul to an outrageous decision. The promoters print the tickets and we pay to see it again.
Carl Frampton isn’t overly concerned about how his rematch against Leo Santa Cruz will be judged Saturday night. Northern Ireland’s Frampton will make his Las Vegas debut when he defends his WBA world featherweight title for the first time against Santa Cruz. But his first two experiences in the United States went well, thus the undefeated Frampton feels he has no reason to worry whether he’ll be judged fairly in their 12-round rematch (Showtime).
Carl Frampton climbed up the steps, strode out to stage left and surveyed the masses. Upwards of 5000 fight fans had filled one side of the MGM Grand Garden Arena on Friday afternoon. Frampton looked out at them, put his right arm in front of his waist and bowed deferentially.
Photos of Frampton vs. Santa Cruz Weigh-In - Cheered on by a large, loud crowd of a few thousand countrymen who made the long trip to watch him fight live at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Northern Ireland’s Frampton weighed in Friday afternoon at 125 pounds for his highly anticipated featherweight championship rematch against Leo Santa Cruz. That’s slightly less than the 125¼ pounds Frampton weighed for their first fight, which he won by majority decision July 30 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
If Friday’s weigh-in was an accurate indication of what to expect, Carl Frampton will feel almost like he’s fighting at home Saturday night in Las Vegas. Cheered on by a large, loud crowd of a few thousand countrymen who made the long trip to watch him fight live at MGM Grand Garden Arena, Northern Ireland’s Frampton weighed in Friday afternoon at 125 pounds for his highly anticipated featherweight championship rematch against Leo Santa Cruz. That’s slightly less than the 125¼ pounds Frampton weighed for their first fight, which he won by majority decision July 30 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.