By Elliot Foster
Carl Frampton has relinquished the IBF super bantamweight title ahead of his maiden test at featherweight.
‘The Jackal’, 29, has been forced to give up the privilege of being the champion of the red and gold organisation in the 122lb division after agreeing to challenge for global honours a division north.
Frampton (22-0, 14 KOs) outpointed arch rival Scott Quigg over 12 rounds back in February to add the Super WBA belt to his aforementioned IBF crown that he won in September, 2014 with a decision over Kiko Martinez.
And it will be the belt that he was stripped of, the WBA Super crown, which he was relieved of for failing to make a mandatory defence against Guillermo Rigondeaux, that he will fight for up at 126lbs when he takes on the champion, 27-year-old Mexican Leo Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18 KOs), on July 30 at the Barclays Center in New York.
“I’m delighted to be fighting Leo Santa Cruz for the world featherweight title but I would like to say a huge thank you to the IBF for their professionalism during my time as their super bantamweight champion,” said Frampton.
Frampton had a mandatory challenger with the IBF in the shape of Japan’s Shingo Wake, but now that he has he belt, Wake will face the highest ranked available contender for the vacant crown.
And the Tigers Bay man has wished Wake, who has a record of 20-4-2 (12 KOs), the very best of luck as he looks to pick up the version of the world title that Frampton has left behind.
He said: “I have been a proud IBF world champion for nearly two years and I one day hope to once again become an IBF champion.
“I wish Shingo Wake the very best in his championship fight.”
