Photos: Frampton, Santa Cruz Ready For War at Barclays Center

By Jake Donovan

Leo Santa Cruz and Carl Frampton are set to headline a big night of boxing Saturday evening from Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. Live coverage will include five televised bouts spanning two networks, with Santa Cruz-Frampton to top a SHOWTIME-televised tripleheader.

Both fighters were well within the featherweight limit for the 12-round title fight. Santa Cruz tipped the scales at an always lean 125.4 lbs. in advance of the second attempted defense of his featherweight title. The unbeaten boxer from California by way of Mexico previously reigned at bantamweight and super bantamweight before picking up a vacant featherweight belt with his thrilling unanimous decision victory over Abner Mares last August.

In his previous outing, Santa Cruz successfully defended the strap with a 5th round knockout of former 122 lbs. titlist Kiko Martinez this past February.

On that same day, Frampton became a two-belt titlist at super bantamweight with a 12-round victory over longtime rival Scott Quigg. The bout was short on action through the first six rounds, picking up steam over the second half but never quite living up to the grudge match billing it carried. 

The unbeaten boxer from Belfast, N. Ireland subsequently vacated both titles in pursuit of a run at featherweight. He weighed 125 lbs. in search of unseating Santa Cruz, while also enjoying just his second career fight in the United States. 

In the televised co-feature, Mikey Garcia and Elio Rojas meet in a matchup of former titlists both coming off of extensive layoffs.

Garcia weighed 138 lbs. for his first fight since Jan. '14 - and also his first bout since being freed from his promotional contract with Top Rank - as he looks to add to a resume that includes title reigns at featherweight and super featherweight. Rojas checked in at 139 lbs. in the first ring appearance in two years for the former super featherweight beltholder.

Opening the show, Tony Harrison and Sergey Rabchenko collide in a super welterweight battle, where the winner will move within reach of his first career title shot. Both combatants weighed in at 153.6 lbs. well inside the 143-pound divisional limit.

On the SHO Extreme telecast, former two-division titlist Paul Malignaggi abandons his post as Showtime expert analyst to take on Gabriel Bracero in a clash billed as the Battle of Brooklyn. 

Malignaggi tipped the scales at a trim and ready 146.5 lbs., while Bracero came in right at the contracted limit of 148 lbs. 

Not quite as pleasant an experience at the scales was that of lightweight Ivan Redkach, who stripped down to his birthday suit but still came in at 135.2 lbs. - 0.2 lbs. above the contracted limit for his scheduled bout with Tevin Farmer. The terms of the contract will be changed to reflect the new weight, presumably with some additional cash being paid to Farmer, who weighed 134.5 lbs.

FULL WEIGHTS

Leo Santa Cruz, 125.4 lbs. vs. Carl Frampton, 125 lbs. - 12 rds, featherweight

Miguel Angel "Mikey" Garcia, 138 lbs. vs. Elio Rojas, 139 lbs. - lightweight

Tony Harrison, 153.6 lbs. vs. Sergey Rabchenko, 153.6 lbs. - super welterweight

Paul Malignaggi, 146.5 lbs. vs. Gabriel Bracero, 148 lbs. - welterweight

Tevin Farmer, 134.5 lbs. vs. Ivan Redkach, 135.2 lbs. - lightweight

Twitter: @JakeNDaBox_v2