Managed to get some 12s and 13s on Betfair for Frampton winning inside the distance tonight. Watched his interviews and he said exactly what I had thought watching his last fight- weight drained and struggling to make it for a year and a half. He'll be stronger, fitter and honestly think Santa Cruz is going to expose his chin and get banged. Saver on Frampton points at 7/2 to cover the stake.
What. A. Fight!!! So rare these big fights live up to the hype but this one did as it ebbed and flowed from round to round but for the majority of it everyone could see who the superior boxer was. Quick footwork, clever movement head and feet and really hard, accurate punching throughout. His power he carried into the fight was something they did talk a lot of beforehand, and tonight he backed that up. His powerful, stinging hits were so telling and Cruz looked timid coming forward into him as he knew he was being hurt with Carl's superb powershots. My worry was Cruz's reach but the intelligent way Carl moved negated that from the first bell. To boil it down Cruz lacked the quick handspeed when in with real quality, the best he'd been in with, but he brought heart and Mexican fighting courage to the table. As I was waiting for the result I was thinking I've never been as glad to lose a bet in my life! Tonight did show why he was such a certainty against Quigg. Different class. So refreshing to see an all action title fight. Completely different from the fight with that bore Quigg. The support in New York for the Jackal spoke volumes for the popularity and respect he carries. He's got such overwhelming support from everyone as he's a truly decent fella and in a sport full of phoneys and hype jobs it's class to see a proper down to earth ordinary bloke become one of the best fighters around. He's elite. Bring on the rematch in Belfast I say. And the Neeeeewwwwwwwwwww....
Well done to Frampton, it's never easy travelling to win a world title but to do it against an unbeaten 3 weight world champion is something else. The arrogant little **** will be unbearable now like. I'd still like to see the Quigg rematch I think Quigg just got the tactics wrong in the first match and if he'd started quicker he had the beating of Frampton. But that seems further away than ever now.
Amazing stuff by Frampton, to be honest, I severely underrated the man. I didn't think he'd beat Quigg and thought Santa Cruz would to to classy for him. But Frampton is a warrior. Well done to all who helped him to his second title. I suppose even McGuigan deserves a pat on the back. Brilliant stuff.
Not seen the fight yet but online reports are saying fight of the year candidate. Also a fair bit of talk on boxing sites about bad scoring again, a lot saying draw was fair but some controversy about the wide scores for Frampton anyone who's seen the fight feel thats the case? I hope not i'm getting sick of judges ridiculous scoring.
I went out today so didn't see the fight, I do know though that Santa Cruz threw better than a thousand punches to Frampton's 660 or so. CompuBox had Santa Cruz landing 255 to Frampton's 242. So nothing in it really. I think the wide margin on some cards has raised some questions.
The last judges score was well off, no way did Frampton win that easily but most neutrals would say Frampton just edged it. He definitely carried the bigger threat and hit with the more powerful blows. He had Cruz well rattled in the second. That's why stats can be such a poor guide as they don't differentiate between the most telling blows! The power Carl brought in surprised me, from the first bell you could feel he was the more powerful man. I think Cruz was more surprised than most after a very early exchange it was clear Frampton was landing vengeful, accurate blows, whilst Cruz was throwing and landing but at times he was almost slapping. There was no real snap in his jab for periods of the fight. Unlike Quigg, I definitely think he warrants a rematch but he can do the travelling this time. Carl's the champ now, let him call the tune. That wee prick Quigg had his chance, Frampton is beyond his level now. Outside of England he's hardly box office. And even in his own backyard Frampton's fans outnumbered his by a mile FFS! Let him plug along fighting no marks lined up by Captain Bullshit Hearn in ****ty Manchester. Frampton's much, much bigger than that now. He proved to the boxing world he's in for the big stuff now.
Spot on from what I've read and what I've had text me from mates. I don't think anyone is arguing the result there's just some upset about the margins on two of the cards. I'll make my own mind up when I get round to seeing it. **** em anyway, he won and he deserves to enjoy it. I disagree with your thoughts regarding Quigg as a boxer, I do agree he doesn't sell much but I really don't think there's much between him and Frampton
Just a thought Smoke, is it possible that this win over Santa Cruz will mentally lift him well beyond Quiqq. Could it be the making of him?
Very possible, he's had McGuigan hyping him up for years and now he's finally proven beyond a doubt he's more than hype. I like Quigg as a boxer he's very good and I think I'm just disappointed that his fight with Frampton was such a let down, neither fighter exactly covered themselves in glory that night. It could also be possible that if Frampton is levels above Quigg then maybe to get a better performance out of Frampton he needs a better class of opponent as shown last night. I can't see the Quigg/Frampton rematch happening now unless Quigg comes back and beats a top fighter and gets another world title. There's been rumours of him going in with Rigondeux or Donaire.
A couple of minutes of film hardly give a true indication of a person's personality, but I like what I saw here. He seems a decent bloke.
Getting a bit off subject here, but I've had a sort of interest in Sumo for a long time. I don't find myself watching too much of it, but when I do, I enjoy it. In Japan there are 6 major tournaments per year, each is called a Honbasho. Last month, the Nagoya Basho took place, ending a couple of weeks ago. These are 15 day tournaments where the top two ranks of wrestlers contest a daily event. Most of the televised matches though involve only the top ranked wrestlers, but when an injury occurs to one of them, a second division wrestler steps in to fill the void. The top division is divided into four ranking sections and is limited to 42 wrestlers. The four sections are the Yokozuna, Oseki, Sekiwake & Komusubi. The last three mentioned are all subjected to promotion and relegation within and between groups. The Yokozuna on the other hand can never be relegated. Yokozuna are rare, at the moment there are only three, and all of them *****lian born, Hakuhou, Harumafuji & Kakuryu. (A sore point among some in Japan.) At times there have been no Yokozuna ranked in the sport. These men become legends and are honoured through the ages. Keep an eye out for the titles of Yokozuna & Ozeki before a name. Anyway, enough of that, so for those interested in watching the very best of another sporting discipline, I've posted the highlights of the final day of the Nagoya Basho.
Does anyone know if the Haye v Briggs fight is still on for Wednesday? There doesn't appear to be anything in the press.
During my recent 'bender' had my annual discussion with Ken Buchanan in one of the local pubs in Leith. Stories about Madison Square Garden, Hall of Fame entry and sharing a dressing room with Cassius Clay/M'd Ali always enjoyable!
Yeh; he is always hanging out in Leith's boozers. Nice guy; if he knows you he will approach you. Doesn't like being 'accosted' by every arsehole who may turn up in one of his haunts. Great recall about his fights especially Jim Watt and Roberto Duran. Always receive his judgement about recently retired and current boxers.
