May 7, 2024

Carl Frampton aiming to face Santa Cruz, Selby after return

Carl Frampton has his eyes on bigger fights as he gets ready for Saturday’s tune-up.

Former super bantamweight and featherweight titleholder Carl Frampton returns to action this coming Saturday in Belfast, when he takes on underdog Horacio Garcia in what is seen as a tune-up return bout for the star in his hometown, following a January loss to Leo Santa Cruz.

Fight fans are understandably eager to know what his bigger plans are after that, though, andhe says he’s got some names in mind:

“There are so many big fights — even guys without belts — and there are about seven or eight guys I’d be happy to fight,” Frampton told ESPN. “The main one I want is Leo Santa Cruz, it’s one each between us and I’d love him to come this side of the Pond but I doubt he will.

“So he is someone I want to fight, [Lee] Selby again, him and [Josh] Warrington are going to fight, but at this point in time I’d be confident Selby would win that fight and I’d be happy to fight the winner.”

Frampton (23-1, 14 KO) lost to Santa Cruz (34-1-1, 19 KO) in January, as mentioned before, but did defeat him in July 2016. A rubber match, taking place in the United Kingdom, was discussed, but Santa Cruz’s team turned it down, with the fighter’s father expressing concern about traveling to Frampton’s turf and getting a fair shake.

IBF titleholder Selby (25-1, 9 KO) will face Eduardo Ramirez on December 9 in London, and does have Josh Warrington (26-0, 6 KO) lurking as a mandatory challenger. Warrington beat Dennis Ceylan in an eliminator on October 21.

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