Carl Frampton isn’t wasting any time jumping into the featherweight fray. This Saturday, the undefeated former 122-pound champion will move up and face current WBA champion Leo Santa Cruz in his divisional debut. And there are many intrigued boxing fans who want to see how a unified champion will fair in a bigger weight class.
The card will headline a Premier Boxing Champions card on Showtime set to begin at 9 p.m. ET. Oddsmakers have made Santa Cruz a clear favorite going into the bout.
Bet on boxing odds at BookMaker.eu
Carl Frampton +190
Leo Santa Cruz -240
Please note, the boxing odds at BookMaker are updated on daily basis. The lines listed here may have changed since this article was posted.
ODDS ANALYSIS
The opening odds had Cruz as a -164 favorite, with Frampton a slight underdog at +125. However, early action has driven the champion’s money line into more expensive territory, as he’s now hovering around -240. Frampton is fluctuating as a 2-1 favorite, with sportsbook odds ranging from +190 to +210.
FIGHT LEAD-IN
The tale of the tape is the story of the fight, as the question is whether the 5’5” Frampton -- not a big guy to begin with -- can hang with the 5’8” Santa Cruz. There is no chance that the Northern Ireland native can overpower the champion, and he’ll have to outbox him in a country that he’s not used to fighting in.
The first time that Frampton fought in the U.S., he put on a dismal effort against Alejandro Gonzalez, who dropped him twice in the first round. He was able to gut out a win, but not without a lot of difficulty. He then defended his title against Scott Quigg in a fight where the challenger’s size gave him problems.
If Frampton had trouble with Quigg, his prospects don’t look great against Cruz. Like Quigg, Cruz is a pressure fighter, and it was clear that Frampton was uncomfortable against a man that relentlessly pressed forward. What’s more, the champion has better punching power, longer reach and is younger.
That’s not to say Frampton has no shot. He can be extremely fast and elusive, and there will be times where Santa Cruz has to chase him. This is where the Irishman can score points, with pot shots and well-timed combinations. However, it’s difficult to see him doing this over the majority of 12 rounds.
“This is the fight I wanted and I’m 100% confident that the belt will be coming home to Belfast,” said Frampton in an interview to SkySports. “Santa Cruz is a strong and aggressive undefeated champion, but his style is made for me. Myself and my team have been chasing this fight for a long, long time and that’s because we know we have the tools to beat Leo.”
PREVIEW AND PREDICTION
Santa Cruz just needs to follow the blueprint that Quigg laid out. As long as he remembers that he can physically overwhelm Frampton, this is Leo’s fight to lose. While Frampton is crafty enough to survive to the final bell, he’s going to be on his bicycle much of the time. Take the champ to win a clear decision.
Boxing Odds: Santa Cruz UD Frampton
HOW TO BET
With BookMaker Sportsbook, you can bet on boxing all year, from regional cards to pay-per-view events. Access live betting lines from your mobile device at BookMaker Sportsbook. You can even wager on sporting events as they unfold on television with BookMaker’s live betting platform. Santa Cruz vs. Frampton takes place Saturday, July 30, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. The Premier Boxing Champions card will air live on Showtime starting 9 pm. ET.
