Welcome to Fightful.com's live viewing party of Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz 2 for th WBA "super" featherweight title. The first bout between the two was a 2016 summer classic with Frampton upsetting the former champion Santa Cruz to become the WBA champion. We'll be bringing you quick recaps of the non-title televised fights on Showtime Extreme and full, round-by-round coverage of the televised card which will be broadcasted on Showtime.
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Here's the televised undercard card (Showtime Extreme, 8 p.m. ET):
David Benavidez defeated Sherali Mamajonov via TKO, round 2
Josh Taylor defeated Alfonso Olvera via unanimous decision (79-72, 79-72, 78-73)
Here's the televised main card (Showtime, 10 p.m. ET)
Leo Santa Cruz defeated Carl Frampton via majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 115-113) to win the WBA "Super" Featherweight Championship
Mikey Garcia defeated Dejan Zlaticanin via KO, round 3, to win the WBC Lightweight Championship.
Here is the untelevised undercard:
Herbert Acevedo defeated Jose Santa Cruz via unanimous decision (59-54, 59-54, 59-54)
Leduan Barthelemy defeated Jesus Aguinaga via unanimous decision (59-55, 59-55, 58-56)
Antonio Santa Cruz defeated Victor Torres via unanimous decision (38-37, 38-37, 38-37)
Jerry Perez defeated Javier Cepeda via TKO, round 1
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TELEVISED UNDERCARD
Josh Taylor vs. Alfonso Olvera: junior welterweight bout: Olvera proved to be a tough test Taylor, who went the distance for the first time in his pro career. Don't let the scorecards fool you, Taylor had to work hard for this win. The two men traded punches from the very beginning of the bout. Taylor rocked Olvera around the fourth round, but faced a little bit of trouble when Taylor hit a low blow in the sixth round, forcing the referee to deduct a point from Taylor.
Official Result: Josh Taylor defeated Alfonso Olvera via unanimous decision (79-72, 79-72, 78-73)
David Benavidez vs. Sherali Mamajonov: super middleweight bout: Benavidez came right out of the gates and pressured Mamajonov, eventually knocking him down in the first round. Although he got back up, Benavidez continued to punish Mamajonov until the referee came in and stopped the fight in the second round, giving Benavidez his 17th win and 16th stoppage. The 20-year-old is undefeated as a professional boxer and is the NABF Junior light heavyweight champion.
Official Result: David Benavidez defeated Sherali Mamajonov via TKO, round 2
MAIN CARD
Dejan Zlaticanin (c) vs. Mikey Garcia: WBC Lightweight Championship Bout
Round 1: Both fighters meet at center ring, Zlaticanin presses forward to try to close distance on the taller, longer Garcia. Zlaticanin runs into a jab, then a straight right. Garcia is using his technical ability to keep Zlaticanin on the end of his punches. Garcia continues to poke Zlaticanin with his jab. The first round shows that Zlaticanin is going to have a tough time getting past the size disadvantage against a very sound boxer. Garcia lands two consecutive hard jabs. Zlaticanin couldn't get much of anything done.
Fightful scored round 1 for Garcia 10-9
Round 2: Garcia comes out pumping the jab a dozen times, maintaining distance against the shorter fighter. Zlaticanin tries a straight left to the body which looks to fall short. Garcia throws a couple 1-2 combinations on Zlaticanin. Garcia sneaks in another jab right through the guard. Another hard 1-2 lands for Garcia. Zlaticanin whiffs on a big right hook. Garcia shoots a right uppercut on Zlaticanin. Garcia is in complete control early.
Fightful scored round 2 for Garcia 10-9
Round 3: Zlaticanin continues to press forward with little success. Zlaticanin tries to match jabs but his arms aren't long enough to box with Garcia on the outside. Zlaticanin ties to press Garcia to the ropes but Garcia able to pivot away before Zlaticanin can get anything off. Garcia hits Zlaticanin with a big uppercut and then with a massive left hook. Zlaticanin goes down and he is out. Garcia is the new champion.
Official Result: Mikey Garcia defeated Dejan Zlaticanin via KO, round 3, to win the WBC Lightweight Championship.
Carl Frampton (c) vs. Leo Santa Cruz: WBA "Super" Featherweight Championship Bout
Round 1: Frampton begins with a left jab. Santa Cruz also uses the jab to measure up Frampton. Sata Cruz connects on a right hand, then an uppercut. Three straight jabs by Santa Cruz are thrown. The two men exchange haymakers, but no real damage is done to either fighter. Santa Cruz is moving forward and then throws a hook. The two men get tangled up in the ropes and start trading hard punches and the round ends with the crowd on their feet.
Fightful scored round 1 for Santa Cruz 10-9
Round 2: The two boxers don't do much in the first 30 seconds of the fight. Santa Cruz throws a jab and misses. Frampton tags Santa Cruz's body with a jab. Santa Cruz connects on a three-punch combo. Frampton responds with a 1-2 of his own. Frampton hits a left hook to Santa Cruz's jaw.
Fightful scored round 2 for Frampton 10-9
Round 3: Santa Cruz blocks Frampton's head shots. Frampton then dodges Santa Cruz's punches. Two straight jabs from Santa Cruz. Frampton connects on a left hook to the inside part of Santa Cruz's body and Santa Cruz connects with a hard left of his own. Santa Cruz hits a right hook to Frampton's body. Frampton has Santa Cruz in the corner and connects on a right hook and then tags Santa Cruz's jaw with a solid left hook.
Fightful scored round 3 for Santa Cruz 10-9
Round 4: Frampton misses the sweeping left hook. Santa Cruz keeps connecting on the jab. Frampton then responds with a right hand. Frampton then hits a left hook to Santa Cruz's head. Santa Cruz unleashes a flurry of body shots to Frampton and now both men are throwing caution to the wind and are hitting themselves with massive hooks and uppercuts. Santa Cruz throws three straight jabs and Frampton gets tangled and falls to the canvas but it is not a knockdown.
Fightful scored round 4 for Santa Cruz 10-9
Round 5: Santa Cruz misses with right body hook, but then connects with the right jab. Frampton gets in close and hits a body shot. Frampton connects on a short left hook to Santa Cruz's jaw. Santa Cruz ducks another jab from the champion. Frampton tags Santa Cruz with a jab. Both men clinch, but neither man throws a punch. Frampton is moving across the ring and Frampton misses a wild short uppercut. Santa Cruz hits a good counter left jab to Frampton. Santa Cruz hurts Frampton and has him running across the ring in the last 10 seconds of the round.
Fightful scored round 5 for Frampton 10-9
Round 6: Frampton starts off with a few left jabs. Santa Cruz connects the body with the left. Frampton connects with a left hook. Frampton is moving forward with a left uppercut and the two men start to trade shots again. Santa Cruz hits a couple of body left hooks. Frampton misses a 1-2 combo. Santa Cruz hits left jab. Frampton is trapped in the ropes, but dodges every single punch Santa Cruz hits Ali-style.
Fightful scored round 6 for Santa Cruz 10-9
Round 7: Frampton connects on the left hook. Santa Cruz then takes the offense up close, hitting Frampton with a short uppercut. The two men brawl once more and afterwards, Santa Cruz is throwing jabs while frampton dodges them. Santa Cruz hits a short jab. Frampton dodges Santa Cruz's punches at the end of the round like he did in the last round.
Fightful scored round 7 for Frampton 10-9
Round 8: The two men throw wild punches, but barely connect to start off the fight. Frampton eats a left hand and Santa Cruz is connecting on successive jabs on both of his hands. Santa Cruz hits a short uppercut. Santa Cruz throws two straight jabs. Frampton has Santa Cruz on the ropes, but Santa Cruz quickly avoids punishment.
Fightful scored round 8 for Santa Cruz 10-9
Round 9: Frampton hits a left hook and Santa Cruz responds with one of his own. Santa Cruz throws a hook and then an uppercut, but ar blocked by Frampton. Frampton has Santa Cruz on the ropes and throws body shots that Santa Cruz blocks. Santa Cruz tags Frampton with a left jab. Frampton throws a three-punch combo. Santa Cruz throws a left hook and Frampton throws short hook. Both men exchange hard punches. The last 10 seconds saw both men tag each other stiff haymakers to their faces.
Fightful scored round 9 for Frampton 10-9
Round 10: Frampton hits a couple of left hands to Santa Cruz. Frampton hits swinging left hook to the body and both men clinch. Frampton throws a jab and then eats one from Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz hits Frampton with a couple of short right hooks to Frampton's face. Santa Cruz and Frampton each throw a couple of uppercuts and hooks to each other. Frampton's left hook is blocked by Santa Cruz. Frampton attacks Santa Cruz's body to end the round.
Fightful scored round 10 for Santa Cruz 10-9
Round 11: Both men begin the championship rounds on the attack to their bodies. Santa Cruz connects on a couple of left hooks to Frampton's body. Frampton lands a jab and then tries to go fo the uppercut, but Santa Cruz blocks those punches. Santa Cruz has Frampton on the ropes, but he stays fighting, responding every hard hook and uppercut from Santa Cruz with one of his own. Santa Cruz ducks from a couple of hooks from Frampton. Frampton tags Santa Cruz with a couple of hooks. Frampton throws a wild left hook but it is blocked. The two men clinch once more.
Fightful scored round 11 for Frampton 10-9
Round 12: Frampton attacks the body as the crowd in Las Vegas is electric. Santa Cruz is on the ropes and is eating several hard punches from Frampton. The challenger eventually fights back with a few body shots. Frampton. Santa Cruz is hitting a couple of solid jabs. Frampton misses a right hook and the two boxers clinch. The two men hit several short hooks to each other's heads. Santa Cruz hits a short uppercut to Frampton's body. Both en clinch again. Final 10 seconds sees both men going all out. What a fight.
Fightful scored round 12 for Santa Cruz 10-9, making it 115-113 for Santa Cruz
Official Result: Leo Santa Cruz defeated Carl Frampton via majority decision (114-114, 115-113, 115-113) to win the WBA "Super" Featherweight Championship
