Monday 1 August 2016 15:05, UK
New WBA featherweight champion Carl Frampton has set his sights on a unification clash with Lee Selby after defeating Leo Santa Cruz in Brooklyn on Saturday.
In his first fight at 126lbs, Frampton produced a superb performance at the Barclays Center to claim a majority points decision victory over Santa Cruz and inflict the first defeat of the Mexican's career.
The Northern Irishman - now a two weight world champion - made the decision to move up in weight only in February after unifying the IBF and WBA super-bantamweight titles with victory over Scott Quigg.
Frampton refused to rule out a rematch with Santa Cruz, but admitted a clash against the reigning IBF featherweight champion Selby "interests" him and stressed his desire to be involved in big fights.
"I don't think there's a rematch clause in place, but it would be a great fight, one I'd be happy to do," he said.
"I'd love to bring him over to Belfast. We could sell out a stadium, but we'd need the right time of year.
"Lee Selby is a great fighter, someone I respect and one of the best UK fighters. That's a fight that interests me, there's Gary Russell, all these guys.
"I just want to be involved in big fights, memorable fights. I don't need to be disrespectful to guys, I just want to get on with it."
Frampton produced some dazzling combinations in the opening rounds and rocked Santa Cruz onto the ropes with a series of powerful punches.
He continued to land the more effective punches, but had to navigate some tough moments and was tested by an overhand right from Santa Cruz in the 10th round.
But a late surge from Santa Cruz was not enough to prevent Frampton from claiming the belt that manager Barry McGuigan won in 1985, with two judges ruling the fight 117-111 and 116-112 in his favour, the third scoring the contest at 114-114.
"I don't know if it's sunk in yet... that's going to be a fight that defines part of my career," he added.
"I've just made history. I've beaten an unbelievable fighter in Leo Santa Cruz - a three-weight world champion - and it was the toughest fight of my career.
"I made it a bit harder than I needed to, I fought with my heart rather than my head at times but I wanted to be involved in one of those fights and I think people will remember that for a very long time."
