Carl Frampton WBA featherweight title challenge against Leo Santa Cruz
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Carl Frampton WBA featherweight title challenge against Leo Santa Cruz

CARL Frampton will challenge defending champion Leo Santa Cruz for the world featherweight title on July 30 in New York.

The bout – which will take place at the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn – will see Frampton aim to clinch the title that his manager Barry McGuigan won 30 years ago.

Frampton, 29, is aiming to become the first Northern Irish boxer to win world titles at different weights.

"This is the fight I wanted - me and my team have been chasing it for a long, long time," said Frampton.

"I'm 100% confident that the belt will be coming home to Belfast. It is the one my manager Barry McGuigan held 30 years ago.

"Santa Cruz is a strong and aggressive undefeated champion but his style is made for me.

"We know we have the tools to beat Leo. He throws a lot shots and is a proven operator. It is going to be a great fight.”

The Belfast native had to surrender his IBF world super bantamweight belt ahead of his upcoming featherweight title bout.

Frampton beat Scott Quigg in a super-bantamweight unification bout in February, adding the WBA belt to his IBF title.

Frampton was stripped of the WBA belt after he failed to agree a first defence against Guillermo Rigondeaux.

"I would like to say a huge thank you to the IBF for their professionalism during my time as their super bantamweight champion,” he said.

"I have been a proud IBF World champion for nearly two years and I one day hope to once again become an IBF champion."