Part #2 of the Featherweight Title Fight of the 2016 Year
BoxingGlove Notes
Distinio Lois, Jr.
Here we go again at the M.G.M. Grand Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada on Saturday, January 28th 2017 where Leo “El Terremoto”-Earthquake-Santa Cruz challenges Northern Ireland’s Carl “The Jackal” Frampton for the W.B.A. Featherweight Title.
After Santa Cruz was dethroned by Frampton July 30th 2016 in New York he demanded a rematch not in Ireland but in Las Vegas which Frampton quickly agreed to.
Frampton agreed because “Everyone except me, and Barry McGuigan felt that I had lost to Santa Cruz and I received a gift. That is not so, that is why I am giving him a second chance to lose again and prove that I am the better fighter.”
The first fight indeed was a war of fistic attrition from the first bell to the end of the fight with the winner in doubt although Frampton had the upper hand in most of the rounds. Frampton won a unanimous decision by all 3 ring judges. Santa Cruz claimed he won and was robbed.
Santa Cruz’ error was to not use his height and reach advantage and tried to slug with the shorter, stronger, slugger Frampton who at times was able to step back, box and counter punch Santa Cruz effectively hurting him on numerous occasions.
At the post fight conference Santa Cruz did admit that he did not follow his Father’s instructions to box and he just slugged with Frampton trying to knock him out, “that error perhaps cost me the victory, my crown, and my undefeated record”, stated, Santa Cruz.
Santa Cruz further declared that he had corrected those mistakes, “and since my Dad is now well-Cancer free-, and I am among my Mexican fans in Las Vegas, I will win.”
The very ambitious Santa Cruz additionally stated that after this victory over Frampton he wanted to challenge Super Featherweight Champ Vasyl Lomachenko, then go on to win the 135 Pound and the 140 Pound Titles to establish a boxing record of winning many titles consecutively.
W.B.A. 126 Pound Champ Carl Frampton, 23-0, 14 knockouts, declared that this fight will prove “beyond a show of a doubt that I defeated Santa Cruz cleanly and fairly and I did not receive a visitor’s gift”.
A smiling Leo Santa Cruz, 32-1-1, 18 k.o.’s, just walked away stating, “we’ll see who gets the gift this time.”
The semi-final fight marks the return of a former 2-time undefeated world champ, Mickey Garcia, 35-0, 29 knockouts challenging W.B.C. 135 Pound Champion, Dejan Zlaticanin, 23-0 15 k.o.’s from Podogortica, Montenegro.
Garcia of the world champions Garcia boxing dynasty was advised not to challenge a tough opponent and world champ such as hard hitting undefeated south-paw Zlaticanin, so soon after his 2 & ½ years off due to promotional problems.
Garcia stated very valiantly, “My biggest and toughest fight was in the Courtroom and I won.”
Mickey Garcia further declared, “I am ready to take on all of the toughest opponents to add to the Garcia Family Boxing Legacy”.
This is really a title fight of 2 undefeated quality fighters where some-one’s “0” will go, even though Zlaticanin nicknamed “Dynamite” is relatively unknown in the United States but a hard punching come at you fighter.
Black Star News gives Santa Cruz the vote by decision in a repeat of perhaps a second “Fight of the Year” candidate, creating a possible Ireland vs. Mexico trilogy.
Mickey Garcia by knockout, around the 8th round after a vicious body punishment on his opponent.
Black Star News readers what’s your opinion?
