Atlas picks Santa Cruz to dominate “built-up” Frampton

ESPN analyst and respected trainer Teddy Atlas is heavily favouring Leo Santa Cruz for his WBA featherweight title defence against Carl Frampton tomorrow night.

The 60 year old questioned the credentials of ‘The Jackal’ ahead of the New York clash at the Barclays Centre, describing how “Frampton has been built up across the pond.”

“He looks good, he gets in there, he has a good stage prescence.”

“He’s become very popular in England, they know how to build him up.”

“The two McGuigans, Barry McGuigan and his son Shane who trains him, have done a wonderful job of promoting and bringing him up.”

Perhaps most surprisingly, Atlas felt Frampton’s decisive victory over Scott Quigg in February was somewhat controversial as he revealed “His last fight, I’m not sure he won against Quigley [sic].”

Giving his prediction for Saturday’s showdown, Atlas is confident of a win for ‘El Terremoto,’ stating how “I like Cruz.”

“I like Santa Cruz to maybe even dominate in this fight.”

“I think maybe the bus stops here [for Frampton], because for me Santa Cruz is one of the best guys out there.”

“Frampton is going to have to hurt him and slow him down because he’s like a snowball coming down a hill.”