Leo Santa Cruz questions Frampton’s ‘weak chin’

Leo Santa Cruz will be targeting Carl Frampton’s ‘weak chin’ when the pair meet in a massive World title fight live on Showtime next month.

The long-time Frampton target will finally trade leather with ‘The Jackal’ in New York on the last Saturday in July, and the WBA featherweight World champion is promising an exciting performance.

The three weight World champion has always shown respect for the Belfast man and, when details of the fight tickets were announced today, did admit the undefeated former super bantamweight world champ was a good operator.

However, among the praise was some criticism of Ireland’s current leading pro puncher.

The former Golden Boy star claims Frampton doesn’t like pressure and has gone as far as to question the Cyclone star’s chin.

“I’ve never been to New York before and I’m looking forward to this big opportunity to put on a show for new fans in a new city,” said Santa Cruz.

“I always fight for the fans and I’m excited to be able to do that somewhere I haven’t been before. Frampton is a good fighter. He has power and skills and he moves when he has to, but he has a weak chin. When he gets caught with a good punch, he goes down. He doesn’t like pressure and I have that. I’m looking forward to putting on an exciting show at Barclays Center and I hope I leave with lots of new fans.”

Frampton has only been down twice in his 22 fight career and not only did both knock downs come in his fight with Alejandro Gonzalez Jr the both came in a disastrous opening round. On both occasion’s the 29 year old wasn’t badly hurt – the knock downs were more flash than fatal.

Indeed, there has been little to suggest the former Irish amateur champion is chinny and he has handled pressure fighters exceptionally at various stages of his career. He dealt with Scott Quigg’s late flurry last time out with relative ease and he twice defeated a fighter known for his come forward big punching style, Kiko Martinez in major title fights.

Indeed the second time Frampton defeated the Spaniard, who earned himself massive respect in Ireland over the years, he outpointed a fighter that who came to Belfast on the back of four knock out wins three of which came in World title fights.