After Leo Santa Cruz lost his featherweight world title by majority decision to Carl Frampton in a sensational battle on July 30 at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York, it took him no time at all decide what he wanted to do next.

Santa Cruz, armed with the right to an immediate rematch, immediately exercised his option, and the fight was set for Jan. 28 (Showtime) at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

On Wednesday, the promotion kicked off with the fighters discussing the rematch and the site officially being announced.

“The rematch is the fight we wanted,” Frampton said. “I enjoyed our first fight in New York. The atmosphere was fantastic and the fight lived up to the hype. On Jan. 28, I will be better and I will win more convincingly. I know the way Leo fights. He throws a lot of punches and he is brave, but his style suits me.”

Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs), 29, of Northern Ireland, is a strong contender for 2016 fighter of the year honors because he notched highly significant victories in both of his fights this year. In February, he outpointed British rival Scott Quigg by split decision to unify two belts at junior featherweight. Then Frampton moved up in weight and beat Santa Cruz for a featherweight title in a strong fight of the year contender.

In 2017, Frampton will fulfill another goal by fighting in Las Vegas for the first time.

“It has always been a dream of mine to headline in Las Vegas, and I cannot wait to get out there and put on a great performance for the American boxing fans and the traveling support from Ireland and the UK,” Frampton said.

Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KOs), 28, who is from Mexico but lives in the Los Angeles area, is a former three-division titleholder. He never wavered in deciding to go for the rematch with Frampton.

“From the moment our last fight ended, when the decision came and I lost the fight, I knew my only goal was to get my belt back,” Santa Cruz said. “When I sat in the locker room afterward, I felt more motivated than ever to get back in the gym. All I’ve thought about since the fight was this rematch.

“There won’t be any distractions in this camp. I’ll be heading into the fight with a better game plan. I’m putting in 100 percent in training, and I’m excited to get in the ring on Jan. 28 to get my belt back.”

The promoters of the card, Richard Schaefer’s Ringstar Promotions, Tom Brown’s TGB Promotions and Barry McGuigan’s Cyclone Promotions, announced there would be a two-city media tour to promote the fight. The kickoff news conference will take place Nov. 29 in Belfast, Northern Ireland, Frampton’s hometown, with a second one scheduled to take place in Los Angeles on Dec. 1. Both will be open and free to the public.

“I am looking forward to a terrific event in Las Vegas,” said McGuigan, a Hall of Fame former featherweight world champion from Ireland. “The first fight between Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz was sensational, and I truly believe that the rematch will be even better. I’m convinced that Carl will win the rematch more convincingly, and beating someone like Leo Santa Cruz a second time will define Carl as true great of Irish boxing.”

The cofeature will pit lightweight world titleholder Dejan Zlaticanin (22-0, 15 KOs) in his first defense against former featherweight and junior lightweight titleholder Mikey Garcia (35-0, 29 KOs).

“This is the most important fight of my career,” said Zlaticanin, 32, who won the vacant 135-pound belt in June by third-round knockout of Franklin Mamani to become the first world titleholder from Montenegro. “I expect a tough and ruthless fight. I know how good Mikey Garcia is, but I also know how good I am. The fight is not going to reach the final bell. One of us will be knocked out, and I believe it will be Mikey. Garcia has never fought a good and strong fighter like me before. He will feel my power on Jan. 28.”

Garcia, 28, of Oxnard, California, will be fighting for the second time since ending a 2½-year layoff caused by a battle over his promotional contract with former promoter Top Rank. He returned July 30 and looked like he hadn’t missed a beat in a fifth-round knockout of former featherweight titlist Elio Rojas.

“I’m very happy and excited for my upcoming fight,” Garcia said. “This is a chance to claim a third world title in my third division. Zlaticanin is tough, strong and dangerous, but I feel confident in my abilities. I’m planning on giving the fans in Las Vegas a great show; 2017 will be a great year for me, and it all starts Jan. 28.”

Schaefer offered his take on the Las Vegas event.

“It’s a thrill to promote another fantastic night of boxing featuring two evenly matched world championship showdowns,” Schaefer said. “These are the kinds of cards that Ringstar is all about. Frampton and Santa Cruz put on a memorable performance in July and battled from the opening bell. It was Frampton who took home the belt last time, but I expect that Leo will train to be 100 percent and do everything in his power to get his title back. I believe this could be an even better fight than the first one.

“We also have Mikey Garcia, who shook off the ring rust in July and will challenge the most dangerous lightweight champion in the world, Dejan Zlaticanin, in the co-main event. This is a fight that looks destined to end by knockout. The perfect stage for this great night of action is the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and I anticipate a huge crowd on hand to support these outstanding fighters.”