Carl Frampton stripped of WBA 122lb strap

By Boxing News - 04/07/2016 - Comments

frampton32333By Jim Dower: The World Boxing Association has reportedly stripped Carl Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs) of his WBA 122lb title, according to Fight News. This isn’t really surprising because for Frampton to keep his WBA title, he would have had to defend it against the unbeaten WBA Champion in Recess Guillermo Rigondeaux.

While Frampton has said in the past that he has no problems facing the talented Rigondeaux, he also hasn’t shown any real interest to fight the Cuban warrior. Frampton, 28, won the WBA 122lb title last February in his 12 round split decision win over the injured Scott Quigg. Frampton was lucky that Quigg was injured because a healthy Quigg would have had a great chance of beating him.

Frampton will still have his IBF 122lb title even with the WBA stripping him of his title. Many boxing fans expected Frampton to never defend the WBA title if he won the belt because it would require that he face Rigondeaux, and he doesn’t appear to want to make that fight. Frampton wants to face WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz. That’s a fight that would bring Frampton a good payday, and it’s a more winnable fight than if he were to face Rigondeaux. However, Santa Cruz might be more than someone like Frampton can handle. You can argue that Santa Cruz is like a bigger, better version of Quigg. Frampton seemed too small for Quigg.

Rigondeaux will now face interim WBA champion Moises Flores for the WBA title before or on August 1 of this ytear. Flores, 29, won the interim WBA super bantamweight title last year in April in beating Oscar Escandon by a 12 round split decision. Flores has since defended the WBA title once in beating Luis Emanuel Cusolito by a 12th round knockout last September. Flores is scheduled to face Paulus Ambunda next month on May 7. It’s unclear if that fight will take place or not.

Frampton needs to cash out as fast as he can because his fight against Quigg showed that he’s not going to be able to stay at the top for too much longer. Quigg would have beaten him if he had been injury free and started fighting hard earlier in the fight. In moving to featherweight, Frampton is going to have problems in that weight class if he decides to stay up there. There are too many quality fighters at 126, and Frampton would struggle against them. Frampton would be better off taking the Santa Cruz fight, and then moving back down to 122 regardless of the outcome of that fight. Frampton could then resume defending his IBF super bantamweight title against all comers except Rigondeaux. Frampton might be able to hold onto the IBF title for a little while. A rematch with Quigg would be great for Frampton, and maybe a unification fight against WBO champion Nonito Donaire if he can get that match-up. Frampton might have problems with Donaire’s punching power though, because he’s still punching with very good power. There’s nothing wrong with Donaire’s power.



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