Tuesday 31 January 2017 19:45, UK
Scott Quigg felt that featherweight rival Carl Frampton lacked a plan B during his rematch defeat by Leo Santa Cruz.
Former opponent Quigg kept a close eye on Frampton's majority decision loss to Santa Cruz in Las Vegas last weekend, after following the Belfast man up to the same division.
The Bury man accepts he failed to switch his tactics in time during his points defeat to Frampton in February, but believes 'The Jackal' made a similar mistake against Santa Cruz.
"I thought Santa Cruz boxed a perfect fight," Quigg exclusively told Sky Sports. "He changed up, something that I didn't think he could do so well. He got the win and it was a very, very good performance.
"I was surprised in Frampton's approach to the fight and McGuigan's. His plan A didn't work and they didn't change once in the fight.
"I scored it 116-112, I thought eight rounds to four to Santa Cruz. I thought he was in control from the start.
"I was very, very surprised that Frampton didn't try to adapt or do something different, especially after five or six rounds. It was just the same pattern of the fight."
Frampton's trainer Shane McGuigan has defended his tactical advice after receiving criticism, but Quigg points out that he and trainer Joe Gallagher also came under fire last year.
"Everyone is entitled to their opinion," said Quigg. "People are going to give them stick, because when you are at the top of your game, you are expected to produce, and if you don't produce then you're going to come under fire.
"Some of the criticisms rightly so are thrown against them, but to be honest with you, it's part and parcel of the game. Look at the stick me and Joe got.
"They will accept a share of the praise when the fighter wins, so at the end of the day, it's only right that they accept a share of the blame if the fighter loses."
The 28-year-old doubts whether Frampton will receive a third fight with Santa Cruz, who regained the WBA 'super' title, and continues his pursuit of a rematch against the Northern Irishman with an expected appearance on the Anthony Joshua-Wladimir Klitschko bill at Wembley.
"Obviously I'm looking to be out on the 29th of April," he said. "I've been speaking with Eddie [Hearn]. We're trying to make a big fight, maybe an eliminator for the WBA featherweight title. I would love to fight Santa Cruz, but again I always want that rematch. Even though he got beat, I still want to settle the score.
It's like if someone's mum was walking down the street and got her purse nicked and they ran off. Would you want to keep trying to find them and get it back?
"It's like if someone's mum was walking down the street and got her purse nicked and they ran off. Would you want to keep trying to find them and get it back? It's no different. If someone's beat you, why would you not want to avenge that loss?
"I've watched the fight back many times now. Yes, he won the fight, simple as that. We got it wrong on the night and started too slow. But why would you accept that and not want to go and put the record straight."
You can hear more from an exclusive interview with Scott Quigg on this week's Toe 2 Toe podcast.
