Carl Frampton may be thousands of miles away from his native Northern Ireland, but he won’t be short of support when he takes on Leo Santa Cruz in a WBA world featherweight title rematch at the MGM in Las Vegas.
It is estimated that 5,000 of his supporters have made the journey to Nevada to support their man.
“I was expecting big numbers but I wasn’t expecting that.
“It felt like Belfast here today and I think tomorrow is going to be more of the same.”
Irish boxing legend @WayneMcCullough sees @RealCFrampton winning even more convincingly second time vs @leosantacruz2 pic.twitter.com/6woU4jnVya ? Gareth A Davies (@GarethADaviesDT) January 29, 2017 src=”//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js” charset=”utf-8″>
Northern Ireland’s sporting profile is on the rise. Rory McIlroy is regarded by many as the world’s top golfer. The football team did well in the European championships and now Frampton wants to follow in the illustrious footsteps of fighters like Barry McGuigan.
As ever our man Gareth A Davies is at ringside and the atmosphere is electric.
Auto update On 4:28AM Round 5
Frampton caught out of position there as Santa Cruz starts enjoying ascendancy. As Shane McGuigan warns CF, that he is losing his alertness. CF landed a right hand but then was caught by SC and was put off balance.
10,000 here in the MGM Grand Garden Arena
Santa Cruz 10-9 4:24AM Round 4
Both teams telling their men to go to the body between rounds. Two huge left hooks from CF miss. Good jab by SC. Good right to body from CF. Left hook from CF. They exchange, thrilling, this is where The Jackal wants it. This suits Frampton. SC moves smartly away. Carl trips to the floor over Leo. No knock down. Gave that to Frampton but this is close. More volume from SC, but Frampton shots more telling
Frampton 10-9 4:19AM Round 3
Frampton wants to be heavy handed but Santa Cruz but Mexican throwing 60 not 80 punches a round and being very accurate. Frampton much better with the range in this round, caught less, SC feinting well. Counter left SC, and left hook CF. CF hurt SC with a left hook in last fight. Good left counter upper from CF. Another good left hook from CF late on. CF making adjustments now.
Frampton 10-9 4:14AM Round 2
Santa Cruz has made the adjustments and really using his greater length and reach to try and jab and control. Not pressure fighting as usual. It is Frampton who is now having to attack. Both men being much more tactical in the second. Frampton getting caught mid range. Good right by CF.
Santa Cruz 10-9 4:12AM Round 1
Incredible. They are trading blows toe to toe by the end of the first. Unbelievable. Santa Cruz feinting a much smarter than first fight catches Frampton early, and better with the jab. Frampton looking for upper cuts. Santa Cruz did not lunge in great round for the Mexican
Santa Cruz 10-9 4:06AM Frampton vs Santa Cruz fight No 2 … here we go. Gareth’s view.
Frampton, I feel is in for the fight of his life. It would not surprise me if this was another humdinger. In the first fight, the Northern Irishman proved beyond any doubt that his skills, chin, fighting IQ and champion’s heart belong at the elite level. Santa Cruz is of the highest order as a box-fighter. Yet there is such clarity in Frampton’s camp, with the McGuigans, that there is never any complacency. Frampton will have to be at his very best again, but I believe Frampton will win on a wider points margin in this second meeting of two great young fighters at the peak of their powers.
