Carl Frampton stuns Leo Santa Cruz to win WBA world featherweight title
CARL FRAMPTON became a two-weight world champion with a majority decision victory over Leo Santa Cruz in their WBA featherweight title bout in New York.
Carl Frampton has won the WBA world featherweight
Former super-bantamweight champion Frampton, fighting for the first time at 122lbs, gave an assured, composed performance to stun his unbeaten Mexican opponent and score a 23rd professional success.
Judge Guido Cavalleri scored the contest 114-114 but Frank Lombardi (116-112) and Tom Schreck (117-111) ruled in favour of the Northern Irishman, giving him the belt his manager Barry McGuigan won in 1985.
After the win Frampton said: "I wanted to be in a fight people would remember.
"I wanted to be in with true champions like Leo Santa Cruz.
"This guy is a three-weight world champion. He is a true warrior and I respect him a hell of a lot.
"I would love to bring him to Belfast and show them an amazing fighter but I have a good relationship with Lee Selby's team. I want to be the best and be involved in big fights."