By Rob Maclean: Leo Santa Cruz was able to edge WBA Super Featherweight world champion Carl Frampton in a highly competitive contest, under the lights of Las Vegas, Nevada. Santa Cruz effectively boxed at range, yet also met Frampton in blistering exchanges, making for an all-round great contest and performance. Frampton showcased his boxing skill and movement yet fell short tactically.
The early rounds saw Santa Cruz use his height and reach, in particular his effective jab. The shorter Frampton struggled to find range as Santa Cruz threw straight shots. and a couple of times hit Frampton when the Northern Irishman believed he was out of range. Frampton adjusted, found a mid-range were he could work, and used his clever head movement to evade oncoming shots.
The mid rounds became much more exciting as the two men exchanged punches in bunches, neither man wilting, as they worked away. Santa Cruz exhibited three or four excellent left hooks to the body in round 6.
Frampton and Santa Cruz began to feel the pace through the later rounds, firstly Santa Cruz in the 7th and then Frampton in the 8th looked to hold more. Despite the tiredness both fighters continued to show world class skills, heart and toughness. In these rounds they were extremely tight, however Santa Cruz rounds were more convincing than Frampton’s best rounds.
By the championship rounds it seemed Frampton was feeling the pace. Santa Cruz worked in close and at range well, each time seeming to out-land Frampton. Credit has to go to his tight defence, his long arms covered his head and body beautifully. In the final round Frampton threw everything he had at Santa Cruz, he dug deep and showed the heart of a champion, after looking all out by round 11.
The final bell rang far too early. Boxing skill, grit, tactical changes and a mutual respect were all on show last night. This was a truly compelling fight. Personally I scored the fight 114-114 however Santa Cruz put in the better performance, in rounds he won, he won well.
He claimed the majority decision, one judge scored it 114-114, overruled by the scores of 115-113 by the other two judges. This was a real spectacle. Both fighters showed huge respect, with Frampton admitting defeat despite its closeness, Santa Cruz deserved his win. And so he did. At times he reminded me of a more skilled version of Antonio Margarito. A third fight is almost inevitable and so it should be, this one was worth every penny.