Frampton rematch with Santa Cruz set for Las Vegas in January

Featherweight World Champion Carl Frampton will face Mexican Leo Santa Cruz in a rematch in Las Vegas at the end of January next year, it has been confirmed.

The Jackal’s manager Barry McGuigan has confirmed the pair will face off again the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on 28 January.

“Carl Frampton had already moved to another level, and the rematch with Leo Santa Cruz on 28 January continues his march towards the pinnacle of boxing,” he wrote in his column.

“We had options, but as long as the numbers made sense the rematch clause was always going to be easy to trigger — especially since he gets to make his debut at the Mecca of boxing.”

He added: “Frampton is already a two-weight world champion, and I believe he could make history as Ireland’s first three-division king before he is done.”

Frampton became the first Northern Irishman to win world belts in two weight categories when he beat Santa Cruz on points at Brooklyn's Barclays Centre in July.

He remains unbeaten in 23 professional bouts.