Frampton Defeats Cruz for Title & Philly’s Tevin Farmer Shines!
It what one could call a fight “hard to match” former IBF/WBA super bantamweight champion Carl “The Jackal” Frampton, 23-0 (14), of Northeren IRE and Mexican Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz, 32-1-1 (18), of L.A. put on a 12 round slugfest second to none as Frampton took the WBA Super World featherweight title from Cruz by a majority draw. It was a big night for fans at the Barclay Center, in Brooklyn, NY. This fight could have gone either way and a draw would be most appropriate being both fighters fought their hearts out for 36 minutes. Showtime covered the event and it would be well worth watching the main event again and again.
Frampton from Northern Ireland was the first from his country to win two world titles in two different divisions. His manager the former world champion Barry McGuigan was at ringside and after the announcement of the decision had tears of joy in his eyes. Cruz landed many more jabs and Frampton more power punches. There was talk of a rematch “in Ireland” said Frampton and “in L.A. said Cruz. My gut feeling is he will unify titles with Lee Selby of the UK.
Scores were Guido Cavalleri 114-114, Frank Lombardi 116-112 and Tom Schreck 117-111 with BCB having it 114-114 and if this writer had to pick a winner it would have been Cruz it was that close. Referee Harvey Dock did an excellent job in a fight that had little fouling and clinches. Both fighters showed respect for the other.
In a not so good undercard to say the least Philly’s Tevin “American Idol” Farmer, of Philadelphia, 22-4-1 (15), “shined” when he defeated Ukranian Ivan “El Terrible” Redkach, 19-2-1 (15), both being southpaws in a 10 round lightweight bout. Arthur Mercante, Jr. seemed to be warning Farmer twice as much as he did Redkach taking a point from each boxer.
In the opening round Farmer was using his jab making Redkach miss in a close round. In the second and third rounds Farmer stepped it up landing with both hands. When against the ropes Farmer at times slipped 4 out of 5 punches. In rounds 3 to 5 Farmer was putting on a clinic landing 3 punches at a time. Redkach got very frustrated moving to a corner daring Farmer to come in due to not landing
In the sixth round Farmer landed 7 unanswered punches. At times Farmer is being over warned by referee Arthur Mercante, Jr. while few warnings to Redkach for the same infractions. In the seventh round Farmer makes Redkach tries throwing looping right after looping right and misses everyone. In the eighth round Redkach has a cut outside his right eye. Referee Mercante took a point from Farmer for a low blow. By the end of the round Redkach had a bruise under his left eye. In the ninth round Redkach purposely butted Farmer and lost a point. Farmer is completely outclassing Redkach making him look like an amateur. Farmer reminds me of Philly’s “Gypsy” Joe Harris when he came to the Garden to outclass champion Curtis Cokes in a non-title fight. In the tenth and final round Farmer a super featherweight contender stepped up to lightweight for this one and had such an easy time with Redkach. Good corner work for Farmer with Chino Rivas and assistant Rashiem Jefferson.
Judges Taylor 99-89, Alan Nace and Andy Lundy had it 98-90. BCB 98-89.