Carl Frampton can beat Leo Santa Cruz says 'Prince' Naseem Hamed
Tuesday 3 May 2016 22:26, UK
'Prince' Naseem Hamed is convinced Carl Frampton can handle the step-up to featherweight when he challenges Leo Santa Cruz for the Mexican's WBA world title this summer.
The undefeated fighters clash at Brooklyn's Barclays Center on July 30 in Frampton's second fight in America, after 'The Jackal' retained the WBA super-bantamweight title against Alejandro Gonzalez Jr in Texas last year.
Hamed made the same leap to featherweight after relinquishing his WBC International super-bantamweight title and stopping Steve Robinson to claim the WBO world title in the higher weight division in 1995.
He retained that belt with a thrilling win over Kevin Kelley at New York's Madison Square Garden two years later and Hamed believes Frampton can enjoy similar success in the Big Apple.
"Carl is a great fighter and I knew he would have too much for Scott Quigg in his last fight," Hamed told Sky Sports.
"I remember when I fought against Kevin Kelly at Madison Square Garden. I was just a kid from Sheffield and it was amazing to see my name up in lights like that.
"I think Carl is more than capable of handling the occasion and even though he is stepping up from super-bantamweight to featherweight I have every confidence he can get the job done against Santa Cruz."
Hamed hopes fellow Brit Amir Khan can upset Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez in Las Vegas this weekend and is convinced a blockbuster showdown with domestic rival and IBF welterweight champion Kell Brook remains on the cards, irrespective of the outcome on Saturday night.
"A lot of people have been quick to write Amir off ahead of his fight with Canelo," Hamed added.
"Nobody really knows how he'll cope with the extra weight he's had to put on but he's done well to get this fight and I'm firmly behind him as is every Muslim around the world.
"But a fight against Kell Brook has to happen regardless of what happens in Amir's fight against Canelo.
"In my head I have a good idea of who is going to win that fight but I'm not going to tell you. What I can say is that Khan against Brook is the next major British super-fight in this country.
"It has to happen and it will happen no matter how Khan gets along in Las Vegas next weekend. That is a fight that will get made, it will be huge and it will happen at Wembley Stadium."
