Leo Santa Cruz has cast doubt over a third fight with Carl Frampton in Belfast after admitting his father has warned him about making the trip. The Californian regained his WBA 'super' featherweight belt with a points victory in last month's rematch in Las Vegas and Frampton immediately called for another fight in his hometown.
Santa Cruz insists he is willing to fight in front of Frampton's own fans, but his father and trainer Jose is reluctant to travel. "My dad is scared that if I go over there, and even if I beat Carl Frampton, the people and the judges are going to be an influence," Santa Cruz told Villainfy Media.
"No matter if I beat him, he thinks that even if I beat him I'll have the victory taken away from me. My dad says not to go over there, because going over there would be a really bad decision and, you know, he is right and everything. But if I go over there and I get the win and beat him, for all the fans to see that I win, that's all that matters. Hopefully they see that I win and they give me that."
Jose Santa Cruz returned to regular training duties for the second fight after overcoming cancer and plotted the revenge win over Frampton, who had claimed a points victory in the first fight in New York last July. His son has acknowledged the importance of his father's influence and is unlikely to grant Frampton's wishes.
"It's very important, he's my father, he's been there my whole life, my whole career," said the 28-year-old. "I always listen to my dad. If he says no, I wouldn't go there. I do whatever he tells me to do."
