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Carl Frampton-Leo Santa Cruz 2 Set for Jan. 28 in Las Vegas

One of the greatest fights of 2016 will be getting a sequel.

Showtime announced Wednesday afternoon that Carl Frampton will once again collide with Leo Santa Cruz in what is certain to be a mirror image of their remarkable initial encounter back in July. The battle will be for Frampton’s WBA featherweight title and it will go down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Showtime will televise the action live on Jan. 28.

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The two tiny warriors tore into each other for 12 rounds at Barclays Center in Brooklyn in what remains a candidate for fight of the year in all boxing circles. Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs) badly rocked the Oxnard fighter in the second and nearly stopped him, but Santa Cruz battled back and from there, the featherweights slugged it out until the end. Frampton was awarded a majority decision, allowing the Irishman to capture a world title in his second weight class after partially unifying the super bantamweight crown in February.

“The rematch is the fight we wanted,” said Frampton. “I enjoyed our first fight in New York. The atmosphere was fantastic and the fight lived up to the hype. I will be better and I will win more convincingly. I know the way Leo fights, he throws a lot of punches and he is brave, but his style suits me. It has always been a dream of mine to headline in Las Vegas and I cannot wait to get out there and put on a great performance for the American boxing fans and the traveling support from Ireland and the U.K.”

Santa Cruz, a three-division world champion, is determined to get back on track after suffering the first loss of his pro career. Santa Cruz (32-1-1, 18 KOs) captured the WBC super bantamweight title as well as the IBF bantamweight belt, but he wants the WBA strap that Frampton took from him five months ago.

“From the moment our last fight ended, when the decision came and I lost the fight, I knew my only goal was to get my belt back,” said Santa Cruz. “When I sat in the locker room afterward, I felt more motivated than ever to get back in the gym. All I've thought about since the fight was this rematch. There won't be any distractions in this camp. I'll be heading into the fight with a better game plan. I'm putting in 100 percent in training and I'm excited to get in the ring to get my belt back.”

Co-headlining the marquee will be unbeaten WBC lightweight champ Dejan Zlaticanin (22-0, 15 KOs) making the first defense of his title against former two-division world champ Mikey Garcia (35-0, 29 KOs).

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