Undefeated two-weight world champion Carl Frampton faced off with Leo Santa Cruz in his home city of Belfast on Tuesday to officially announce their WBA featherweight title rematch, which takes place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas on Jan. 28.

Frampton, who is rated No. 2 by THE RING at 126 pounds, dethroned Santa Cruz via majority decision in July. The bout, which took place at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, was a classic and fight fans clamored for an immediate rematch, which also happened to be a contractual obligation.

“The rematch is the fight we wanted,” insisted Frampton. “I enjoyed our first fight in New York. The atmosphere was fantastic and the fight lived up to the hype. I believe if I use my brain a little bit more in this one, I can win it more convincingly. There will be times where we will just have to bite down on the gum shield and fight like you know what, and that’s what I’m prepared to do. Then we will be coming back and having a show in Belfast in the summer.”

A three-weight world titleholder, Santa Cruz (31-1-1, 17 KOs) is determined to avenge his only loss. “I’m very happy to be here and excited,” said the 28-year-old volume-puncher. “The first fight was a great fight and this second fight is going to be even better. I got my first defeat to a great fighter and I want to win the rematch. Hopefully I win and I would like to have the third fight in Belfast.”

On Thursday Dec. 1, the tour moves on to downtown Los Angeles. The rematch will be televised by Showtime. It will be the third straight occasion that Frampton (23-0, 14 KOs) has appeared on the network.

Information courtesy of a press release issued by Cyclone Promotions

Tickets for the Frampton vs Santa Cruz rematch, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports in association with Cyclone Promotions and TGB Promotions, are priced at $504, $404, $304, $204, $104 and $54 (plus AXS booking fees). They are on sale today from 5 p.m. GMT and are available at www.AXS.com

Tom Gray is a UK Correspondent/ Editor for RingTV.com and a member of THE RING ratings panel. Follow him on Twitter: @Tom_Gray_Boxing

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