That’s all for now! Thanks as always for following along with us and be sure to read Steve Brenner’s full report from ringside here.
Santa Cruz indeed outthrew the now former champion by a wide margin. From our Steve Brenner, who is ringside:
Frampton threw 592 punches compared to the 884 coming his way. Frampton landing with only 28 of his jabs compared to 81 from the Mexican.
“It was a very tough fight,” Frampton says. “Some of the rounds were close but I feel like Léo probably deserved it.
“I want to apologize for the traveling support, but the better man deserved it. I’m gutted. I’m gutted. He told me what he was going to do. Sometimes I felt the brawler was outboxing hte boxer. It’s one-all, we have to do it again.
“He was very clever. He used his reach. I think he deserved it. I’m being honest. I think he deserved it, but it was a very good fight. No excuses. I had a very good training camp, but let’s do it again. I hope Léo’s a man of his word. He said if it was a third fight he’d come to Belfast. Let’s do it again.”
“Before the first fight, I wanted revenge,” Santa Cruz says. “I did what I had to do. I knew it was going to be another tough fight and like I said, let’s make it a third fight. I always knew how to use my distance and everything. I like to give my fans a great fight. I’m sorry for my fans, but that was the way to beat Frampton. If I had went in, he would have counter-punched me all night.
“My head was telling me to go for it and pressure, but my dad was telling me box him.
“Of course I’m a man of my word. Let’s do it a third time.”
Trilogy? Let's make it happen. #FramptonSantaCruz2 #Boxing pic.twitter.com/fHx9tcHhPQ
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 29, 2017
Updated
Léo Santa Cruz wins by majority decision!
One judge scores it 114-114, but the other two have it 115-113 in favor of the winner ... Léo Santa Cruz! What a fight! Stand by for the in-ring interviews.
.@leosantacruz2 takes his belt back from @RealCFrampton. Trilogy? #FramptonSantaCruz2 #Boxing pic.twitter.com/7WN2q1rAK9
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 29, 2017
Updated
The Guardian has scored it 115-113 to Frampton but, my, the scores for this one appear to be all over the map. Who knows what to expect when the official scores are revealed in a few moments’ time.
Round 12 (Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz)
Frampton clearly feeling he needs this round, wasting no time in moving forward and throwing shots upstairs and down. A thudding right to the body by Frampton! Frampton throwing a bevy of punches but not landing cleanly, but Santa Cruz fires back with better precision. It’s Santa Cruz’s round with a minute to go. They both look fresh – somehow! – but Santa Cruz is doing the better work off the back heel. Another classic from these two warriors! Santa Cruz trying to pick Santa Cruz off as he rushes inside but Frampton is adamant! He did more to take the fight to Santa Cruz in the final round and I’ve given it to him.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz (Frampton 115-113 Santa Cruz)
Updated
Round 11 (Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz)
Into the championship rounds we go. The accuracy seems to have gone down as both fighters’ punches are missing the target. I’m told – having no access to the punch stats – that Santa Cruz has thrown nearly 300 more punches through 10 rounds. That favors the challeger, especially in Vegas. Frampton really sitting on his punches late in the round and doing fine work upstairs, perhaps enough to nick the round near the end. This really could go either way but I’m going to tip it to Frampton based on his work near the end of the frame.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz (Frampton 105-104 Santa Cruz)
Round 10 (Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz)
More two-way action from the opening bell. How are these guys taking so much punishment and moving forward? Santa Cruz more accurately early but now a big exchange that Frampton got the better of. Santa Cruz now punishing Frampton with counters. A close round with a minute to go. So close, this round and the fight. A knockdown in the last seven minutes could seal it for either man. The action slows as the clock ticks down. The bell rings. Another close one! I’ve given it to Santa Cruz but it was close! The scores for this one, should it go the distance, will be all over the map.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz (Frampton 95-95 Santa Cruz)
Round 9 (Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz)
“You’re a round down,” Frampton’s trainer Shane McGuigan tells his fighter between rounds. “Get the little shots off on the inside, not the one big one.” Frampton continues to move forward after the bell rings. Santa Cruz has seemed to abandon the jab-first game plan and it’s played into Frampton’s hands, but he’s still landing big shots when Frampton walks inside. Big left hook by Santa Cruz! The first clear round in some time and an easy one to score for Santa Cruz. The challenger’s footwork was markedly better in that round, putting himself in position to make Frampton pay again and again.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz (Frampton 86-85 Santa Cruz)
Round 8 (Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz)
What a fight. Both men committed to the head and body. What had started as a pitched battle from the outside is now a showcase of in-fighting. Frampton backs up Santa Cruz against the ropes and wails away! He’s walking Santa Cruz down. Frampton now consistently winning these exchanges. Seems like Santa Cruz is giving Frampton the inside. A lower volume round but Frampton is doing more.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz (Frampton 77-75 Santa Cruz)
Round 7 (Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz)
Another big exchange that Santa Cruz gets the better of, but Frampton continues to lead the attack. Santa Cruz fighting well off the back heel, but Frampton will be awarded for taking the fight to the challenger. Now Santa Cruz moves forward and pecks away with that left jab. He’s so much more accurate it seems, using it both as a rangefinder and a power punch. Frampton looking for that counter but he can’t seem to land it. Santa Cruz’s output is down, it seems by design, but Frampton continues to move forward and has done just enough to take it. Feels like Santa Cruz has won the easy rounds to score while Frampton has taken the close ones. Will the judges agree if it goes to the cards?
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz (Frampton 67-66 Santa Cruz)
Round 6 (Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz)
Frampton doing great work early here, a fine left hook upstairs. He’s coming forward and landing punches but Santa Cruz is game, swatting back. Frampton finally committing to the body but Santa Cruz answers in kind. Another close round with a minute to go! A great fight! The crowd is loving it! Frampton nicks another close one by doing more to step forward and taking the fight to Santa Cruz.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz (Frampton 57-57 Santa Cruz)
Round 5 (Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz)
Frampton still staying to the outside but venturing more into the pocket. Santa Cruz sticking to the game play, using that jab to the head and body. He is staying busy and we should remember these Vegas judges traditionally have given value to volume. He is the busier fighter. Santa Cruz measuring distance so well, but he barrels in after the clapper sounds in the final 10 seconds and lets lose a flurry of punches, many of which miss ... but the roars from the crowd may well influence the judges. Another close round but Santa Cruz takes it.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz (Frampton 47-48 Santa Cruz)
Round 4 (Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz)
Frampton really looking for that left hook but Santa Cruz keeping that jab in his face. Even when it doesn’t land, it’s enough of a distraction to disrupt his game plan. Good right to the body by Frampton, but he takes a left hook to the head moments later. Frampton barrels in but Santa Cruz throws a boatload of punches; unclear how many landed. Oh dear, a tough one to call for the judges for sure. This is even all the way with 30 seconds left. Frampton down as the fighters get tangled up by the end of the round by the referee correctly rules it a slip. This one truly could have gone either way. I’d score it 10-10 if I could but I won’t since they won’t and I’ll tip it to Frampton for the bigger shots early. But clip and save this one if it goes to the scorecards.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz (Frampton 38-38 Santa Cruz)
Round 3 (Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz)
Frampton closing the distance better here early on, avoiding Santa Cruz’s ramrod jam with head movement. Probing, probing. Santa Cruz fighting off the back heel so much better than in their first meeting, using feints and deception. A counter left by Santa Cruz right after a sharp left by Frampton. Good left by Frampton who’s moving better this round. The round is up for grabs with 30 seconds left. Frampton really pushing the action here at the end, landing a sharp shot to the chin. A very close, competitive round but Frampton may have nicked it.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 10-9 Santa Cruz (Frampton 28-29 Santa Cruz)
Round 2 (Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz)
Santa Cruz really snapping that jab, fighting from the outside and not neglecting the body, especially when Frampton deigns inside. Frampton’s face already looking a bit red. Santa Cruz’s volume punching making a difference early. Santa Cruz continuing to score with those straight shots upstairs. A good left by Frampton interrupting Santa Cruz’s rhythm toward the end of the round, but Santa Cruz closes the round with a good double left hook. Less decisive and more tactical than the first Santa Cruz still busier and still doing more.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz (Frampton 18-20 Santa Cruz)
Round 1 (Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz)
Santa Cruz with a more tactical approach than in the first fight, measuring and refraining from closing distance. Santa Cruz really trying to use his reach advantage to keep Frampton on the end of his jab. A good combo by Santa Cruz! Frampton walking into punches early on. They trade near the end of the round and it’s Santa Crauz who gets the better of the exchange! A good right by Frampton there at the end but an easy round for Santa Cruz, who it seemed (without seeing the punch stats) outthrew and outlanded the champion.
Guardian’s unofficial score: Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz (Frampton 9-10 Santa Cruz)
The fighters are being announced right now. Frampton closes as a minus-160 favorite, Santa Cruz as a plus-130 underdog at the MGM Grand sports book.
The fighters are making their ringwalks now. Santa Cruz first, then Frampton, who makes his approach to Gala’s Freed from Desire.
Tale of the tape
Not much longer now. Here’s a look at the tale of the tape between Frampton and Santa Cruz.
Carl Frampton v Léo Santa Cruz
23/0/0 (14)-0 w/l/d 32/1/1
14 Knockouts 18
29 Age 28
125lbs Weight 125lbs
5ft 5in Height 5ft 7in
62in Reach 69in
Orthodox Stance Orthodox
Belfast, Northern Ireland Hometown Rosemead, California
That was a stomach-turning knockout. But Yahoo Sports! scribe Kevin Iole reports that Zlatičanin is upright and made it to the locker room on his own.
FYI, @mikeygarcia being interviewed and @DinamitDejan1 walked to the dressing room under his own power. He looked OK
— Kevin Iole (@KevinI) January 29, 2017
Mikey Garcia has just knocked out Dejan Zlatičanin to capture his third world championship, this one at lightweight. The Californian delivered a right uppercut followed by a right hand for a third-round knockout that’s left the Montenegrin unconscious on the canvas. He’s on his feet after more than a minute but, yeesh, this is a brutal trade.
BOOM. @mikeygarcia drills @DinamitDejan1 and is now a 3-division world champion. #ZlaticaninGarcia #Boxing pic.twitter.com/BgkmgY3MQQ
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 29, 2017
Updated
Lots of questions surrounding tonight’s main event. Steven Doran checks in, via email:
What’s your predictions for tonight Bryan mate ? I’m saying frampton to win unanimous decision with both fighters touching the canvas
I was ringside for the first fight in Brooklyn and scored it 114-114 for the Guardian, closer than two of the three judges had it. But this time Santa Cruz is closer to home, motivated by the first loss of his career and, most importantly, has the benefit of an intact camp.
Santa Cruz went through nearly the entire camp leading up to the first fight without his father, Jose Santa Cruz, who was diagnosed with stage 3 myeloma bone cancer in his spine in April. Fortunately, it’s gone into remission. And Léo insists his mindset will be in a completely different place for tonight’s rematch. Said the fighter this week:
I was worrying more about him, about his health, how he was doing, if he was going to be able to go to the fight with me. Or if he was even going to wake up the day after, tomorrow, to be there with us because cancer is a very dangerous disease that you could be here with us today, or tomorrow you won’t be.
I see the fight playing out in similar fashion to the first installment, but this time Santa Cruz nicking a close decision to set the stage for a rubber match later this year.
But what do I know. I’m just here to watch the fights.
On Friday, Frampton became the first ever fighter from Northern Ireland to be named Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America. The Belfast native earned the honor for his victories over two previously undefeated fighters in 2016: Scott Quigg and Santa Cruz.
Earlier this month, Frampton was given the same honor by the Ring Magazine.
Carl Frampton named Ring Magazine's Fighter of the Year for 2016. pic.twitter.com/68TRviY4tE
— Bryan Armen Graham (@BryanAGraham) January 17, 2017
Hello and welcome to tonight’s rematch between Carl Frampton and Léo Santa Cruz for the WBA featherweight title. Six months ago, Frampton upset the American three-division champion by majority decision in Brooklyn and tonight they’ll do it again. We’re at least an hour out from the main event, but you can catch up on the highlights from the first fight here.
Bryan will be here shortly. In the meantime, read Steve Brenner on why Frampton believes he has the upper hand:
A higher force may be looking out for the 28-year-old yet everything he possesses to see off the dangerous, rangy Santa Cruz – he is two and a half inches taller and boasts an extra seven inches in reach – is already nestled in his locker. The move from super-bantam to featherweight before that first meeting ratcheted up the risk factor. The results culminated in arguably the fight of 2016 and Frampton being named the best boxer over the past 12 months.
Frampton, backed by the burgeoning talent of trainer Shane McGuigan, felt more powerful and less drained, such was the pain of dropping down to the previous weight of 122lb. “I’ve never seen him hit this hard,” said McGuigan Jr.
“I’ve already beaten this guy, I’ve hurt him as well. So psychologically I think I have the upper hand,” Frampton said. “The last week before a fight, I used to hate it because I wasn’t eating much, I was training a lot. Now I have been doing just one session towards the end. I’m just ready to go.”
The card here has been creating serious traction, although the fight between the Welsh IBF champion, Lee Selby, and Jonathan Barros was called off this weekend because the Argentinian failed to comply with licensing regulations. Selby, though, will surely serve as Frampton’s next opponent in an all-British encounter this year.
“We are expecting the biggest British crowd since the Ricky Hatton days,” said the promoter Richard Schaefer. “Carl can become a huge pay-per-view star in the US. This fight is massive for him.”
