Cruz backs Frampton to beat Avalos

WBC World champion and Carl Frampton target has backed Carl Frampton to beat his former sparring partner Chris Avalos on February 28.

Cruz knows Avalos well having shared the training ring with the confident American and warns he is a hard hitting fighter with plenty of talent.

However, the Golden Boy puncher doesn’t believe ‘The Hitman’ has what it takes to upset set Frampton in Belfast and has backed the IBF Champion to retain his title.

“I think it’s a great fight. I’ve sparred with Avalos and he’s a good fighter and hits hard. The thing with Avalos is he’s more of a boxer, he doesn’t have the stamina to throw a lot of punches every round. He waits and then throws like three punches and then waits again, he’s not a pressure fighter that goes forward. Other than that he has a good punch but I don’t think he can beat Frampton – it’s only if he catches him with a good shot because he does hit kind of hard but that’s the only thing,” explained Cruz.

Cruz and Frampton have been linked heavily over the last 12 months, but the American based Mexican has been paid good money to fight punchers who don’t pose the same threat as ‘The Jackal’, so the fight hasn’t materailsed.

However, the undefeated two weight World champ now seems keen to make the clash and says he would come to Belfast for a unification clash.

Cruz has also been linked to Scott Quigg and Guillermo Rigondeaux, but claims Frampton is the main man in the super bantamweight division and the one he wants to beat.

“If my manager and promoter think it’s a good idea to go over there I’m willing – I don’t care, I’ll fight him anywhere. Here or over there – wherever they want. I like to fight and if I go, I’m going to go to win and give it my best and not leave it to the judges and get my own victory.”