Last night in Tucson in an enjoyable 12 round fight that was full of action, up-and-coming Mexican star Oscar Valdez retained his WBO featherweight title with an up from the floor decision win over Genesis Servania of the Philippines. Valdez prevailed by wide scores of 117-109, 116-110, 115-111 and he is now 23-0(19). Servania, who proved to be dangerous and game throughout, fell to 29-1(12).
Carl Frampton
Carl Frampton and Barry McGuigan may be headed separate ways as their relationship hits the rocks
According to various reports coming out of Ireland, the once tight knit relationship between Carl Frampton, the fighter and Barry McGuigan, the manager may be headed towards a separation. Nothing has thus far been one hundred-percent confirmed, nor denied, but numerous sources – including BBC Sport NI – report that Frampton may be close to leaving Cyclone Promotions.
Carl Frampton misses weight for tomorrow’s fight with Andres Gutierrez, no longer a WBC eliminator for “The Jackal”
Earlier today, former WBA featherweight king Carl Frampton surprisingly failed to make weight for tomorrow night’s fight with Mexico’s Andres Gutierrez. The featherweight contest, originally a WBC final eliminator for both men, is now only a eliminator for Gutierrez. Frampton came in one-pound above the 126 pound limit.
Despite this, Frampton and his manager Barry McGuigan are hugely confident going into the Irish warrior’s first fight back since dropping a decision to Leo Santa Cruz in their rematch back in January. 30 year old Frampton isn’t likely to be too concerned over the fact that a win tomorrow will not now earn him a shot at reigning WBC featherweight champ Gary Russell Junior, as he is targeting a fight with IBF 126 pound ruler Lee Selby; this fight a possibility for later this year.
Carl Frampton eager for Lee Selby showdown: Fans want to see who’s the best in Britain
Former two-weight king Carl Frampton returns to action this Saturday night when he will face hungry Mexican contender Andres Gutierrez in a WBC featherweight elimination bout, and although “The Jackal” – last seen losing his belt and unbeaten record in a return bout with Leo Santa Cruz – is not overlooking Gutierrez, he is talking about the fight he would like next.
Carl Frampton set to go to war with another Mexican warrior, will face Andres Gutierrez July 29
Carl Frampton certainly likes fighting tough Mexican warriors. The former super-bantamweight and featherweight ruler will face Andres Gutierrez in Belfast on July 29. The fight will be a WBC featherweight eliminator.
Frampton, 23-1(14) was last seen losing a close decision in his rematch with Mexico’s great Leo Santa Cruz, having previously decisioned him in an earlier, more action-packed fight. Now wanting to fight for another world title and become a three-weight king, “The Jackal” has not in any way picked an easy or safe opponent in the 35-1-1(25) 23 year old from Guadalajara.
Which fight would you rather see next: Santa Cruz-Frampton III, or Santa Cruz-Mares II?
Mexican warrior Leo Santa Cruz is back where he belongs right now: at the top. The superb fighting machine lost his unbeaten record last summer, when another excellent fighter in Ireland’s Carl Frampton topped him in a genuine FOTY contender.
The two came together in a return in January of this year, and Santa Cruz employed his underrated boxing brain, switched tactics, and avenged his decision loss. A rubber-match looked almost a formality, yet the WBA has now ordered Santa Cruz, 33-1-1(18) to fight a return with the man who also engaged him in a classic battle: Abner Mares.
Santa Cruz Senior wary of going to Belfast for rubber-match with Frampton; fears possible robbery
Doubts are creeping in with regards to former featherweight champ Carl Frampton getting his third and deciding fight with Leo Santa Cruz in his beloved Belfast. As fight fans are aware, Frampton and Mexico’s Santa Cruz are currently 1-1 in their terrific rivalry, and Frampton is adamant that having traveled to the US for the first two battles he is entitled to have the rubber-match at home in Ireland.
Carl Farmpton says he’s unable to watch his losing fight with Santa Cruz, but confirms talks are already underway for the rubber-match
Proud Irishman and now former featherweight champ Carl Frampton says his loss to Leo Santa Cruz in their rematch is simply “too annoying” for him to watch on video. Wanting to look back on the close decision loss he suffered in Las Vegas, Frampton put the fight on yet, as he told The Belfast Telegraph, he had to turn it off after just two rounds.
Despite the frustration at losing to the Mexican warrior, or because of it, Frampton is massively eager to get the third fight on, and in Belfast. Talks between the two camps have now begun, Frampton has confirmed, and he also says that whoever he fights next, it will definitely be in Belfast.
Carl Frampton: It’s about how you come back; I do not believe there is a man who could beat me in Belfast
Although it wasn’t the after-fight party he and his passionate fans were hoping for, Irish superstar Carl Frampton kept his word and met many of his fans for a post-fight drink on Sunday, after his close loss to Leo Santa Cruz.
Picking up the tab – in the only bar Frampton was ever going to choose in Las Vegas, “Nine Fine Irishmen” right on the Strip, not far from The MGM Grand, where Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz battled in their rematch – Frampton admitted he was “down in the dumps,” but was not going to let his fans down. Now Frampton is hoping Santa Cruz will not let him down, and will instead keep his promise of fighting him in a third fight in Belfast.
So, who wins the trilogy: Frampton or Santa Cruz?
It didn’t take very long at all, just after their first great fight had ended in fact, for fight fans to begin talking about the possibility of featherweight warriors Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton engaging in the sport’s next great trilogy. But before this could actually happen Mexico’s Santa Cruz would have to avenge the close points loss he suffered at the hands of Ireland’s Frampton in July of 2016.