CARL FRAMPTON BEATS LEO SANTA CRUZ TO WIN WBA FEATHERWEIGHT TITLE
By Ronnie Nathanielsz
PhilBoxing.com
Sun, 31 Jul 2016
Ireland?s Carl Frampton who moved up in weight became a two-division champion with a twelve round majority decision over Mexico?s previously unbeaten Leo Santa Cruz in a veritable war at the Barclay?s Center in Brooklyn, New York.
While judge Guido Cavalleri scored it an even 114-114, Frank Lombardi had Frampton winning 116-112 and Tom Schreck 116-111 also for Frampton.
With the impressive win Frampton improved to 23-0 with 14 knockouts while Santa Cruz suffered his first setback to drop to 32-1-1 with 18 knockouts.
BBC Sport quoted Frampton?s manager Barry McGuigan who held the same title three decades ago saying "This is one of the greatest nights of my life. It doesn't get much better than this." This was Frampton's fifth world title fight and one of the most eagerly-awaited fights of the year. It certainly lived up to its billing. The Belfast boxer made the stronger start, rocking the Mexican on to the ropes with a strong of heavy punches in the second round.
The classy Mexican, with a two-inch reach advantage, was clearly throwing more punches, but the more effective, cleaner work came from the challenger.
Frampton seemed to be building up a lead but Santa Cruz was on top in the rounds six and seven of what seemed a close contest.
The Belfast man regained the initiative but was hit by a clean right-hand punch during the 10th and Santa Cruz finished strongly in an attempt to sway the verdict. It was Frampton's first pro bout at featherweight, having moved up a division after unifying the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles by beating England?s Scott Quigg last February.
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