Jamie Moore planning tactical tweaks for Frampton following Santa Cruz rematch slip-up

Tactics rather than talent cost Carl Frampton victory in the sole defeat of his career claims new coach Jamie Moore.

Having defeated Leo Santa Cruz to become a two-weight World champion in New York in July 2015, the Belfast favourite rematched the Mexican-American in Las Vegas and suffered a points defeat.

The fight was close and competitive meaning not too many questions were asked, with most suggesting it was a case of one world level fighter having a better day at the office than other.

However Moore, who has replaced Shane McGuigan as Frampton’s coach, believes tactically ‘The Jackal’ got things wrong on that January night in the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

“To be honest with you, looking at the second Santa Cruz fight he just got his tactics wrong,” explained Moore.

“Both fights were close fights, but Santa Cruz looked at the first fight and thought ‘right what do I have to do to beat you this time’ and changed his tactics slightly and Carl didn’t and that’s what lost him the fight.”

“They are really evenly matched those two and it will always be a tough night for both, so all my job is to make tweaks and I believe he can beat Santa Cruz.”

In the build up to the fight, Frampton and his old team were adamant Santa Cruz, who is hoped will be tempted to Windsor next year, couldn’t change things tactically.

He has always been a come forward pressure fighter and that wasn’t going to change was the mantra, but ‘El Terremoto’ went on the back foot and seemed to catch the then champion off guard.

Moore suggests he wouldn’t allow that to happen, and that he will approach fights with Plans B and C.

The former Irish, British, Commonwealth and European champion admits he has inherited a world class fighter, but does suggest his job is to ensure he has him fit and arms him with all the right game plans.

“I have said this a couple of times now. I would be offending Carl Frampton if I tried to change him too much because he is a terrific fighter. He doesn’t need changing in that sense.”

“My job is to sharpen his tools up, get him ready fitness wise, make sure he makes the weight and set the right tactics, have a back-up plan and another back up plan. That’s basically what I have to do. I don’t have to change him at all.”