World professional boxing champ

Most professional boxers have this ‘belief’ in spades but only a few ‘walk the walk’ after ‘talking the talk’.

Newly crowned world champion, Carl Frampton did this recently in his epic battle with Leo Santa Cruz.

I knew that the ‘Jackal’ was fighting at his proper weight this time and that would make him a very powerful opponent but I felt he would have to knock Santa Cruz out to win.

Over the distance I thought that the endurance and longer reach of Santa Cruz would prove significant.

How delighted I was to be wrong and not only was it a great fight to watch but totally sporting and devoid of the hatefulness and bad grace that permeates so much of professional boxing today.

I think both men would have had their trainers tearing their hair out as pre-fight tactics were abandoned as they went toe-to-toe and blow for blow.

From the first decent punch that Frampton threw you could see the surprise on Santa Cruz’s face and after that it was game-on.

A wonderful sporting spectacle that will do much to repair the damaged image of professional boxing around the world.