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Team Frampton respond to Rigondeaux call-out

The response when Guillermo Rigondeaux’s name was raised post Carl Frampton’s victory over Scott Quigg sounded familiar.

Again the IBF and WBA super bantamweight champion claimed he was open to fighting the two -time Olympic champion and stating he is the only puncher at the weight capable of defeating the WBA ‘champion in recess’ and mandatory challenger.

However, the bout with the Cuban, who was previously managed by Gary Hyde, doesn’t appeal to Barry McGuigan.

While ‘The Jackal’ would like to prove he is the best super bantamweight in the division by fighting the former two belt World champion , who has been calling out Frampton of late and fights Jazza Dickson on March 22, Cyclone CEO wants the best pay day for his fighter and the best fight for the fans.

Irish fight legend McGuigan doesn’t believe a bout with Rigondeaux would be either fan-friendly or lucrative and seems more keen to see Frampton face Leo Santa Cruz.

“We’re on board with Al Haymon and Santa Cruz is an obvious fight,” said McGuigan.

“We would like to go to America, maybe the east coast this time. Scott Quigg fought very bravely but that [rematch] isn’t an attractive fight for us and we would like to go up to the next level and Santa Cruz is very appealing.”

He added: “I don’t think Rigo is an attractive fight because he backs off, fights off the back foot and we gain nothing from fighting him. We could fight someone like Lee Selby or Gary Russell at [a catchweight] 124 pounds, but Santa Cruz is the money fight.”

The fact ‘El Chacal’, who is undoubtedly a sensational talent, fights on the undercard o fTerry Flanagan and Derry Matthews WBO lightweight World title fight in Liverpool on March 22 suggests he needs Frampton more than the Belfast star needs him.

The former WBA and WBO world title holder’s talents don’t seem to be appreciated by the casual and he suffered due the fact he is high risk and low reward.

However, it’s a fight some fans have called for Frampton to take and their is certainly a part of the unified champ that wants to prove he can beat the Cuban sensation.

“Rigondeaux is another fight that appeals to me – I’ve always said I would be happy to beat him and I think I’m the only one in the super-bantamweight division that can.”

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