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In the latest installment of “big fights that don’t live up to their billing,” Carl Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs) outpointed Scott Quigg (31-1-2, 23 KOs) in a relatively dull affair, that took about six rounds to spark to life, and didn’t exactly light a roaring flame from then on.
With that said, I enjoyed the fight purely because of the hype surrounding it, and the resulting tension and atmosphere that comes with that. It was a big domestic showdown, and as much as it didn’t live up to the pre-fight rhetoric, it is good to see some of the best fighting each other. This might have been a battle for second place at super bantamweight, but when first place is so readily avoided, this is the best we can hope for. But now that Frampton has beaten his domestic rival, what else is on the table for him?
In the days after the Frampton-Quigg fight, it seems that there are 126lb fighters clamouring to fight Frampton. With Lee Selby (22-1, 8 KOs) and Leo Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs) both stating that they’d like the fight, it seems that the Quigg fight showed that Frampton is beatable, and that he might now be struggling to make 122 pounds.
Either way, it certainly seems like he’s got plenty of options, even if he will steer clear of some of them! Let’s take a look:
Leo Santa Cruz
This seems like the most likely path right now. Leo Santa Cruz has expressed an interest in the fight, and this would headline a card in either the UK or the US. Both guys have flaws, and both guys do certain things well, so both will wholeheartedly believe that they beat the other. There should be a reasonable amount of money and interest in the fight, and since both are with Al Haymon, it shouldn’t be difficult to make it happen.
Personally, I think Santa Cruz wins. He’ll be a lot bigger than Frampton on the night, and he has height and reach on Frampton as well.
He’s also proven that, despite his come-forward, brawling style, he is capable of boxing and knows how to use his length when he needs to. I think Frampton, despite his great countering, solid power, and all-round good skills, would be facing an uphill battle against the bigger man, and I don’t think he has enough to equalize that.
But it’s a close enough fight that I’d certainly be interested in it, and I wouldn’t be shocked if Frampton did beat Santa Cruz.
Scott Quigg
This fight won’t be the very next move for Carl, as Scott Quigg has just had surgery for a broken jaw that he apparently sustained in the fourth round, so Scott will be side-lined for a while whilst he recovers. But given all the excitement behind the fight, and the questionable split decision, I think the rematch is clearly on the cards further down the line.
What would happen if Quigg started faster? Did the broken jaw stop him performing his best? If Quigg comes out faster, and more aggressive, could Frampton do more damage on the counter? Can either fighter end this inside 12 rounds?
There’s plenty left to answer in the rematch, and whilst I’m not sure anyone is really is clamoring for it right now, given that the first fight was a let-down, people will be ready to see another go-round after they’ve both had a couple more fights.
I’m hoping, rather optimistically, that there will be less nerves and pressure, and both will be more willing to let their hands go and take some risks.
This fight isn’t on the cards. At all. But it’s the only fight that should be. Carl Frampton just made a case for being the best fighter at 122 pounds right now, but for the fact that Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0, 10 KOs) exists. It doesn’t matter that he has barely fought in 2015.
It doesn’t matter that his opposition has been sub-par since his demolition of Nonito Donaire (36-3, 23 KOs) in 2013. It doesn’t matter that his next fight is against British champion, Jazza Dickens (21-1, 6 KOs). He is still the best.
Frampton and his team will tell the press that they want to fight anyone and everyone, but their actions tell a different story. Sure, he has the propensity to be incredibly dull, and he hardly brings a fan base (other than 100 rabid boxing hipsters), but if Frampton wants to claim that he’s the best 122-pound fighter in the world, Guillermo Rigondeaux is the man to beat.
There are plenty of fights available to Frampton. He could also fight Lee Selby, Nonito Donaire, or Shingo Wake (20-4-2, 12 KOs). But really, there is only one fight he should be calling for, and that’s with the 122 pound king of the castle, Guillermo Rigondeaux.
Who would you like to see Carl Frampton fight next? And who do you think his next opponent will be?
