Who's next?
It didn't take long for that question to be asked following Carl Frampton's win against Scott Quigg at the Manchester Arena on Saturday night.
IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby, the newly-crown WBC super-bantamweight title holder Hugo Ruiz and mandatory WBA super-bantamweight challenger Guillermo Rigondeaux were all mentioned as possible opponents.
Regarding Rigondeaux, Frampton's manager Barry McGuigan was quick to dismiss the notion that they will fight next. A move which will likely mean Frampton having to vacate his WBA belt.
The most likely opponent for the Northern Irish fighter would seem to be WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz.
The undefeated Mexican is 32-0-1 in his career.
Frampton spoke positively about the possible match-up.
Santa Cruz would be a great fight. That’s one we’ll look at. If I beat someone like him at featherweight, I’d probably sneak into the top ten pound-for-pound list.
And then, on Twitter this morning, the 29-year-old enquired if Santa Cruz would be up for a fight this summer.
Well done to Leo Santa Cruz and commiserations to my friend Kiko Martinez. Fancy a summer showdown @leosantacruz2? I'm ready ?
— Carl Frampton (@RealCFrampton) February 29, 2016
Frampton vs Santa Cruz in Belfast this summer would be a massive event.
Picture credit: Ramsey Cardy / SPORTSFILE
