Wednesday 18 January 2017 10:47, UK
Carl Frampton is taking added motivation from those who doubt the validity of his first win over Leo Santa Cruz.
Frampton (23-0-KO14) puts his unbeaten record back on the line on January 29 when his rematch with Santa Cruz (32-1-1-KO18) headlines a star-studded Sky Sports card from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Their first meeting last July saw "The Jackal" inflict a first career defeat on the Mexican, and Santa Cruz said earlier this month he would feel more at home in a city he calls his "second home".
But Frampton feels he is an improved fighter from six months ago and is determined to produce a better performance than he put up when claiming the WBA 'Super' featherweight belt from the defending champion.
Frampton said: "I'm hungry to prove that this wasn't a fluke.
"I see some people talking on the internet that I got lucky last time or that Leo would have won with his father in camp the whole time.
"But I believe there is a lot more to come for me. I've been performing better this camp than ever before. I think I win this fight more convincingly.
"I got drawn in to Leo's type of fight last time, which made it very exciting. Because of our styles, it's always going to be a good fight."
A repeat victory would open the door for more big nights for Frampton with the potential for a unification clash with Welshman Lee Selby among his possible openings.
Selby (23-1-KO8) is in action on the same card, defending his IBF featherweight title against Jonathan Victor Barros.
Frampton added: "If it's two wins to nil for me, I'd rather move on and fight someone like Lee Selby. I just want to be involved in big fights.
"I genuinely feel like I'm getting better and I think Leo's going to be in for a tough night here. If I can do what I've been doing here in the gym, perform like I've been performing in sparring, I'm hurting sparring partners, knocking sparring partners out.
"I feel like I'm developing, developing into a proper featherweight and I feel like he's going to be in for a tough night."
Watch Carl Frampton v Leo Santa Cruz II, live on Sky Sports, in the early hours of Sunday, January 29.
