The Ring editor picking Frampton to beat Leo Santa Cruz
One of boxing’s evangelists, RingTV.com editor Doug Fischer is picking Carl Frampton to prevail against Leo Santa Cruz in their WBA featherweight title clash this Saturday in New York.
Fischer is also one quarter of ‘Ten Count’ on the Undisputed Champion Network, but was not present during this week’s edition where his three compatriots chose Santa Cruz as their winner.
The man in charge of the online portion of ‘The Bible of Boxing’ was responding to queries in today’s mailbag and explained that “I favour Frampton by close but unanimous decision.”
“I think Frampton does whatever is works for him on the night – he’s a versatile/adaptable boxer-fighter. I’ve seen him pressure effectively, stick and move, counter punch, etc. If he needs a busy jab that’s what he’ll employ during the fight.”
Explaining his pick, he elaborated on how “the Irishman definitely has the faster hands and superior footwork.”
“LSC always has the edge in work rate, but lesser boxers than Frampton (Alberto Guevara and Cesar Seda) were able to take him the distance and compete by employing lateral movement.”
“I like how he’s handled his knockdowns/wobbly moments.”
Indeed Fischer feels that Frampton can deal with the much-mentioned high-intensity style of Santa Cruz, reasoning that “Frampton moves backward a good deal of the time, though not all the time (and has moments of being impressive with his pivoting). He can’t constantly back straight out against Santa Cruz, or “Terremoto” will force him to the ropes and work him over. I have to figure that Carl, Shane and Barry know this.”
Fischer was also scathing towards those underestimating Frampton following his controlled performance against Scott Quigg in their super bantamweight unification earlier this year. The American writer admitted that “while I agree that Quigg-Frampton was disappointing in terms of the action the anticipated 122-pound showdown produced, I have to give credit where it is due and the Belfast native was the superior boxer and the ring general in the match.”
“I thought Quigg would break Frampton down with size and pressure (like everyone now believes Santa Cruz will do to the “poor widdle” junior featherweight) but he kept him in check for until about the eighth round.”
“I chuckle when people blame/explain Quigg’s loss on his “decision” to “take off” the first six rounds of the fight. Guys, I love the Quiggster but he held off because Frampton crack him good every time he got a little froggy.”
“Quigg’s jaw didn’t break by itself, kids. Frampton did that. And though he probably won’t dent Santa Cruz’s cement chin, I think he can consistently knock the Southern Californian off balance with his combination of speed, timing, angles and underrated power.”
