Assuming he gets past arguably his toughest test yet in Abner Mares on August 29th in Los Angeles, then WBC 122 lb champion Leo Santa Cruz – who fights Mares at 126 – has said a fight with IBF super bantamweight champion Carl Frampton is a very real possibility and a fight he definitely wants, win or lose later this month.
While the bout with his California based Mexican rival is no foregone conclusion, Santa Cruz has insisted he will put the pressure on Mares – whose sole defeat is a 1st round knockout at the hands of Jhonny Gonzalez 2 years ago – and hopes to end the fight by stoppage, believing he has what it takes to grind the smaller man down over the course of the fight and take him out.
Speaking via fighthubtv, Santa Cruz also insisted he wants to turn around some of the negativity that has seen him dubbed a “cherry-picker” prior to this fight with Mares, and following it, he wants no soft touches – meaning a fight with Frampton is more than likely, especially given both are with advisor Al Haymon.
Santa Cruz, who was ringside for Frampton’s last fight against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr in which Carl battled back from two early (flash) knockdowns to win a decision, said of the Northern Irishman;
“He’s a good fighter. (Vs Alejandro Gonzalez). I think what affected him was the change (of country). You know, he’s from Ireland, first fight in the USA. I think that is the difference but he looked great, (even though) he got caught good.
“They say when you move from one state to another it makes a difference, so if he’s here for a while he can get used to it, (he can) make one more fight so he won’t make excuses and stuff.
“Then hopefully if everything goes good in my fight against Mares and then a possible fight with me and him is very possible because I think we can beat him. He has many defects that we could catch him with.
“If he wants me to go down (to 122lb) I can go down, if he wants to move up, whatever he wants to make that fight, I’ll do it.”
Frampton, whose preference remains a UK blockbuster with Scott Quigg had initially suggested after the Gonzalez fight that he may move to 126, although he has since retracted those comments, insisting he wishes to remain a career super bantamweight.
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