Leo Santa Cruz is blessed with height and range, which powered by his indefatigable engine makes him a machine at featherweight.
Carl Frampton, on the other hand, has physical limitations but possesses power and precision, which woven together by a masterly ring IQ, earned him the prestigious accolade of Ring Magazine’s 2016 ‘Fighter of the Year’.
Indeed, the two offer contrasting styles yet are bound by the same respectful and self-effacing personality.
It is this blend which made their fast and furious first meeting last July in New York both charming and captivating in equal measure.
They added credence to the belief opposites attract with a dance so aesthetically pleasing the boxing community could hardly take their eyes off it, so much so in fact, the focus since has been on reuniting them.
.@RealCFrampton: Fighter of the Year
— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) January 22, 2017
1st bout: FOTY contender @leosantacruz2: seeks revenge #FramptonSantaCruz2=war SATURDAY 10p ET/7p PT pic.twitter.com/AMB0z1PEFz
Fortunately, this weekend we all get our wish as Frampton and Santa Cruz will run back their clash in Las Vegas’s MGM Grand Garden Arena.
First time around, the Northern Irishman’s accuracy bettered the incumbent’s seemingly limitless energy stores to capture the WBA’s 126lbs strap.
In doing so, the 29-year-old took the Mexican’s 0, protected his own unbeaten status, while heightening his profile across the pond and making history at home by becoming the country’s first two-weight world champ.
Unequivocally, the bout lived up to the pre-fight noise but as these two perfect dance partners prepare to dazzle under the lights once more, there’s been something of a role reversal.
Indeed, against the bigger man, Frampton wasn’t given a shot first time around. But as we dissect the rematch, he emerges as the favourite with many predicting a series of 10s from the judges’ scorecards to be shown in his direction.
Of course, Santa Cruz protests and has been steadfast in his intention to change the tune by this time outboxing and outmoving Frampton.
But given the 28-year-old was sent out with the same direction in July and immediately went off beat by instead taking it to Frampton, it’s difficult to comprehend him switching from salsa to ballroom.
“The fans love for a fighter to go toe to toe in a fight. And that’s why I always try, that’s why people say I only fight one way,” he said.
“But the reality is that I could fight any way. I could adopt any way. I could box. I could move. But the truth is I don’t really like moving because I like entertaining the fans because they go out there to see the great fights, wars, toe to toe.
“But then they tell me that at the end of the day, you have to be smart. You have to fight for yourself and go out there and win. And I could do that.
“For this fight, I’m going to try to do that. I’m going to go out there and try to make it for me to come up with the big dream victory. And I’m going to go out there and everybody is going to be surprised at what I could do.”
Frampton, though, insists there will be no shock on his part and is confident of even an easier victory.
“The first fight with Santa Cruz was my toughest fight, the standout fight of my career so far, but in this one if I beat him really convincingly, people will really start to appreciate it,” he told The Guardian.
“The pressure’s on to prove to people that the first time wasn’t a fluke and that I’m a better fighter than him.
“Another victory over him will add to the legacy. He’s a great fighter, a three-weight world champion. He’s very tall, he punches very long, he throws a lot of shots.
“There is a lot I have to worry about. But if I’m switched on from the start to finish, however it finishes, I win the fight.”
