01-29-2017, 10:02 PM
Santa Cruz edges Frampton to regain WBA featherweight title
By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Esther Lin / Showtime
Leo Santa Cruz (33-1-1, 18 KOs) avenged his loss to previously unbeaten Carl Frampton (23-1, 14 KOs) with a twelve round majority decision to reclaim the WBA featherweight title on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After a hard twelve rounds, scores were 115-113, 115-113 for Santa Cruz and 114-114.
Starting off where they left off Santa Cruz boxed and kept his distance in the opening round as he connected Frampton with and the two exchanged wildly to close the first.
Working off the jab Santa Cruz backed Frampton in round two. In the third round Santa Cruz began to stalk as Frampton boxed in and out. Santa Cruz outworked Frampton in round four as he connected with a right, at the end of the round Frampton slipped as everyone was on their feet.
Santa Cruz was on the attack in round five as Frampton began to settle boxing and countering in the closing seconds Santa Cruz closed strong by backing the Irish fighter to the ropes. The Mexican fighter began to dig to the body with the left hook as Frampton traded with him. Halfway through in the seventh Leo boxed poised working off the jab following up with the left hook to the body as Frampton attempted to work his way inside. Working on the inside in round eight Frampton and Santa Cruz exchanged.
Frampton and Santa Cruz had another wild exchange in round nine as it was a close round. It was on in the championship rounds as the fighters traded Santa Cruz landed a snapping right hand. The twelfth and final round both fighters sensed the urgency as they did not hold back as they went toe to toe to the final bell.
In the end the judges scored the bout 115-113, 115-113, and 114-114 as Leo Santa Cruz wins a majority decision and regains the WBA featherweight title.
By Miguel Maravilla at ringside
Photos: Esther Lin / Showtime
Leo Santa Cruz (33-1-1, 18 KOs) avenged his loss to previously unbeaten Carl Frampton (23-1, 14 KOs) with a twelve round majority decision to reclaim the WBA featherweight title on Saturday night at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. After a hard twelve rounds, scores were 115-113, 115-113 for Santa Cruz and 114-114.
Starting off where they left off Santa Cruz boxed and kept his distance in the opening round as he connected Frampton with and the two exchanged wildly to close the first.
Working off the jab Santa Cruz backed Frampton in round two. In the third round Santa Cruz began to stalk as Frampton boxed in and out. Santa Cruz outworked Frampton in round four as he connected with a right, at the end of the round Frampton slipped as everyone was on their feet.
Santa Cruz was on the attack in round five as Frampton began to settle boxing and countering in the closing seconds Santa Cruz closed strong by backing the Irish fighter to the ropes. The Mexican fighter began to dig to the body with the left hook as Frampton traded with him. Halfway through in the seventh Leo boxed poised working off the jab following up with the left hook to the body as Frampton attempted to work his way inside. Working on the inside in round eight Frampton and Santa Cruz exchanged.
Frampton and Santa Cruz had another wild exchange in round nine as it was a close round. It was on in the championship rounds as the fighters traded Santa Cruz landed a snapping right hand. The twelfth and final round both fighters sensed the urgency as they did not hold back as they went toe to toe to the final bell.
In the end the judges scored the bout 115-113, 115-113, and 114-114 as Leo Santa Cruz wins a majority decision and regains the WBA featherweight title.