CARL FRAMPTON wants to secure a trilogy fight with Leo Santa Cruz as soon as possible after losing his unbeaten record and WBA featherweight title to the Mexican-American in Las Vegas last night.
Santa Cruz boxed well to earn a majority decision over Frampton, who had previously defeated him last year in New York.
With the score 1-1 between them and both fights being exciting and closely contested, Frampton wants an immediate opportunity at revenge.
“I want to fight Leo again straight away. I won the first fight, he won the second fight, let’s just do it straight away,” he said.
“I want to fight in Belfast next, that’s what I want to do, I’ve been on the road for two years, my fans are having to pay a lot of money to come and see me. I want to thank them, they come in their numbers but they’re paying a lot of money. I’d like to repay them with a fight back home and hopefully that can happen.
“Obviously I’m very disappointed. It was a good fight. Me and Leo, we’ve now had 24 rounds with each other and I think they’ve all been competitive rounds. Its 1-1 now so if I’m going to look at any sort of a positive out of this, we have to make it a trilogy. It has to happen again.
“I believe that he deserved to have his hand raised. Congratulations to the new champion and hopefully we can do it again. I’ve come to the States twice now and Leo said he’d come to Belfast for the third one, I hope he’s a man of his word. He can come and stay at my house if he wants.”
Santa Cruz was handed his first pro loss by Frampton, and was granted an immediate rematch. Prior to the fight he said that if he were to win, a rubber match would be an inevitability.
“I’m a man of my word and a world champion, a true champion, will go anywhere,” he said.
“In the ring, it’s only me and Carl Frampton. If I come and his fans will all be for him and if I win and they give the decision to him, I know the fans all over the world will know I won and if he wins fair and square then I’ll give it to him. A true champion goes anywhere.
“The trilogy, I would like to give it to Frampton because he’s a great fighter and a great man. Hopefully our managers can come to an agreement, he’s a great fighter and he deserves it.”
