Belfast’s undefeated Carl ‘The Jackal’ Frampton has relinquished his IBF World super bantamweight belt ahead of his WBA Super World featherweight title challenge of California’s undefeated champion Leo Santa Cruz, on July 30 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, USA. In order for Frampton to pursue two-weight World title glory against Santa Cruz this summer, the Northern Irishman must vacate his coveted IBF super bantamweight crown due to mandatory obligations.
The Santa Cruz fight at featherweight made the most financial sense for the hugely popular Frampton but the twenty-nine year old undefeated Belfast native wanted to make clear his gratitude to the International Boxing Federation (IBF) ahead of his World featherweight title challenge.
“I’m delighted to be fighting Leo Santa Cruz for the World featherweight title but I would like to say a huge thank you to the IBF for their professionalism during my time as their super bantamweight champion,” said Frampton. “I have been a proud IBF World champion for nearly two years and I one day hope to once again become an IBF champion. I wish Shingo Wake (the IBF’s mandatory challenger at super bantamweight) the very best in his championship fight.”
Santa Cruz vs Frampton at the Barclays Center, NYC on July 30
Belfast’s undefeated Carl Frampton will take on California’s undefeated Leo Santa Cruz for the latter’s WBA Super World featherweight title on Saturday July 30 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, USA.
Ticket information: Tickets for Santa Cruz vs Frampton will be available from www.cyclonepromotions.com upon release. Information on the date of release to follow soon.
Frampton makes the career defining step up in weight to the Featherweight division having recently dethroned WBA super bantamweight champion Scott Quigg on February 27 in Manchester to become the unified champion at that weight. The Santa Cruz fight represents the biggest fight out there for the twenty-nine year old Frampton and the man they call ‘The Jackal’ is determined to bring the Featherweight title back to Belfast.
“This is the fight I wanted and I’m one hundred percent confident that the belt will be coming home to Belfast,” said Frampton. “It’s the belt that my manager Barry McGuigan held thirty years ago and it’s fitting that I will have the chance to recapture this title. Santa Cruz is a strong and aggressive undefeated champion but his style is made for me. Myself and my team have been chasing this fight for a long, long time and that’s because we know we have the tools to beat Leo. He throws a lot shots and is a proven operator, it’s going to be a great fight.”
The huge Santa Cruz vs Frampton World featherweight title showdown will be co-promoted by Cyclone Promotions at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Saturday July 30. It will be the second occasion that Frampton, 22 – 0 (14 KO’s), has boxed in the USA but on this occasion the Belfast man is set to have New York’s huge Irish community behind him.
“It’s fantastic to be boxing in New York,” said Frampton. “It’s an incredible city with a massive Irish community who I hope get behind me for this fight. There’ll be a lot of people travelling over from Belfast and the whole of the UK and Ireland as well so I’m expecting a good atmosphere on July 30.”
Three division champion Santa Cruz, 31 – 0 – 1 (17 KO’s), is coming off an impressive fifth round stoppage of former Frampton victim Kiko Martinez in his last fight. Twenty-seven year old Santa Cruz announced on twitter, “May the best man leave the Barclays Center on July 30 with the Belt!”
Frampton’s manager, former WBA World featherweight king and Hall of Fame member Barry McGuigan is very confident that his charge can become a two-weight world champion.
“This is going to be a cracking fight,” said McGuigan. “Their styles complement each other so well so the real winner will be the fans. It is going to be a tough fight for both men but I’m very confident that Carl will be able to impose his style on Santa Cruz and win this fight convincingly.”
