Frampton vs Santa Cruz 2 Odds and More – The Premier Boxing Champions and Showtime Boxing are at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada this Saturday, January 28th with a huge boxing card headlined by the featherweight title rematch between Carl Frampton and Leo Santa Cruz.
Last year, on July 30th, Showtime Boxing aired the first fight between the two men. In that fight, Santa Cruz entered at 32-0-1 and with the WBA world title in his possession. Frampton likewise undefeated at 22-0, but he entered the fight as an underdog. Frampton had, until recently, been campaigning at super bantamweight, where he unified the IBF and WBA belts in February when he defeated England’s Scott Quigg and the entered the fight with Santa Cruz giving up distinct disadvantages in height and reach.
Frampton fought a masterful fight, counter punching with authority against the lankier Santa Cruz and, in the end, he won a majority decision to go home to Ireland with a world title in a second weight class. For his part, Santa Cruz had a rematch clause worked into the contract for the first fight, ensuring us this Saturday’s return encounter.
For this fight, Frampton will enter a slight favorite, and come fight time, more money could very well come in for Frampton, as the Dubliner counts on rabid support from his Irish fan base. The first fight took place in New York City but Santa Cruz, from southern California, stated that he noticed the crowd was very pro-Frampton and that this fact bothered him. It will be interesting to see how many people travel to see Frampton from Ireland and whether Santa Cruz is able to draw from his nearby California base.
Frampton vs Santa Cruz 2 Odds and More
Two other world title fight are scheduled for the MGM Grand this Saturday. In Lightweight action, WBC titlist Dejan Zlaticanin defends his belt for the first time against the formidable challenge of Mikey Garcia, and Featherweight action sees IBF champion Lee Selby of England taking on veteran Jonathan Victor Barros of Argentina.
Garcia is just 28 years old, and this is the second fight of his return from a hiatus of more than two years. He is 35-0 and he has held world titles at featherweight and at super featherweight and he was considered one of the top pound for pound fighters in the world. In July of last year he returned and defeated veteran Elio Rojas (24-2), earning a fifth round stoppage. Zlaticanin is 22-0 and the stocky southpaw won the vacant WBC title back on June 11th when he earned a third round TKO win over Franklin Mamani.
IBF world titleholder Lee Selby (23-1) is taking on veteran Johnathan Victor Barros in a match that sees Selby a wide favorite. Selby will be named as a potential opponent for the Frampton vs Santa Cruz winner, especially if Frampton wins the second encounter. Frampton vs Selby in a title unification bout potentially in Frampton’s hometown of Belfast would be a big box office attraction for later this year.
Check out our latst TalknShoot podcast for more details.
MGM Grand – Las Vegas, Nevada – Showtime
Featherweight 12 rounds –
Leo Santa Cruz +140 o10½ -250
Carl Frampton -160 u10½ +210
Lightweight 12 rounds –
Dejan Zlaticanin +178
Mikey Garcia -215
Featherweight 12 rounds –
Jonathan Victor Barros +1100
Lee Selby -1700
Frampton vs Santa Cruz 2 Odds and More / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science.
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