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Shortly after annexing the WBA Junior Featherweight title from fellow Briton Scotty Quigg, Carl Frampton has been ordered by the WBA to face former champion Guillermo Rigondeaux next.
Jackal vs. Jackal
Rigondeaux was stripped of the same WBA title for inactivity but the organization has maintained that the Cuban Jackal should get the next title shot after Frampton-Quigg last weekend. Frampton outpointed Quigg in a Junior Featherweight title unification bout in Britain and went home with two world title belts on his waist. Should the Frampton-Rigondeaux fight happen, it will be a battle between two fighters nicknamed as the Jackal.
Super Fight With Santa Cruz
Shortly after winning that All-England battle, Frampton expressed his desire to fight featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz next. Santa Cruz retained his world title by stopping challenger Kiko Martinez a few hours after Frampton defeated Quigg. A Santa Cruz-Frampton battle would be a big fight in the smaller weight classes and it would have the appeal that Guillermo Rigondeaux never had because of his fighting style.
The undefeated Rigondeaux is considered as one of the best technical boxers in the sport. However, his hit and run fighting style hasn’t impressed the American audience, forcing the big networks to shy away from his fights. Rigondeaux will face unheralded James Dickens in Liverpool on March 12th and barring any major upset, he will be the WBA’s mandatory Junior Featherweight challenger.
No Decision Yet
Given the circumstances right now, plus Frampton’s desire to move up in weight, fighting Santa Cruz would make more sense, especially since the 16-0 ( with 10 KOs) Rigondeaux is seen as the more dangerous opponent. Aside from being ordered to fight Rigondeaux, the IBF also ordered Frampton to defend his belt against Shinji Wake. While Frampton says he wants to keep both belts and remain a world champion, he isn’t getting a break from the alphabet bodies and may be forced to relinquish one or both world titles.
Frampton and his team haven’t made a decision yet, but his promoter Barry McGuigan admitted that Frampton’s next bout won’t be fighting Scott Quigg in a rematch. McGuigan also added that Frampton was unscathed during the Quigg fight and is in tremendous shape that he can fight again very soon. However, he says they are weighing all their options right now while letting Frampton take a much needed break first.
