Carl Frampton had his WBA featherweight title wrestled from him by Leo Santa Cruz in the early hours of this morning.
It was a barnstorming scrap, with the fight going the distance and Santa Cruz winning via majority decision: Judge Burt Clemens scored the fight 114-114; Dave Moretti and Glenn Feldman had it 115-113.
Santa Cruz had evidently learned from his defeat in Brooklyn: he threw over 1,000 punches against the Irishman in July, but threw far fewer in the rematch, therefore offering Frampton fewer chances to pick him off.
Such discipline from Santa Cruz consigned Frampton to his first defeat as a professional. All is now primed for a third fight between the fighters, with a date at Windsor Park in Belfast a possibility.
Having applauded the decision, Frampton admitted he was "gutted" afterward, but gave a wonderfully humble post-fight interview to Showtime. He said he had wished to dedicate his victory to Alejandro Gonzalez, a former opponent who was murdered in Mexico last year. He apologised to the travelling fans, who added a considerable splash of green to the 10,000-strong crowd at the MGM.
Frampton also hoped that Santa Cru would keep his word and come to Belfast for the third fight, before analysing the fight better than anyone: "the brawler outboxed the boxer".
The video below is prefaced by Santa Cruz' ecstatic reaction, who apologised for not giving the fans the style of fight he had wished, but admitted that he could not afford to be cavalier against the explosive counter-punching of Frampton. Santa Cruz is a three-weight world champion, and the fact he had to alter the game plan that has hoisted him to such remarkable success is a testament to Frampton.
Watch it below:
Carl Frampton Interview
The Carl Frampton interview garnered lots of praise in particular.
Great interview from @RealCFrampton keep the head up! Number 3 has to happen! #Warriors
— Jamie Conlan (@JamieConlan11) January 29, 2017
Devastated for @RealCFrampton really am, nothing really else ya can say like fs! Still an unbelievable athlete that's achieved greatness!
— Paddy Barnes OLY (@paddyb_ireland) January 29, 2017
Great fight, didn't expect Leo to be able to box how he did! Third fight needs to happen now😱 Hard luck @RealCFrampton!! #framptonsantacruz2
— Michael Conlan (@mickconlan11) January 29, 2017
The grace of Frampton in defeat is nothing but sheer class. A throughly decent human being. A trilogy has to happen. Two superb fighters
— Thomas Niblock (@thomasniblock) January 29, 2017
Roll on the trilogy. One of the great modern rivalries.
