Carl Frampton has revealed that negotiations have begun for a rubber match with new WBA World featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz.
El Terremoto inflicted a first career defeat on the Belfast boxing icon two weekends ago, returning the favour following Frampton's victory in their first fight last July.
Frampton, now 23-1 (14KOs) as a professional, told the Belfast Telegraph that he is yet to rewatch their second fight, as it remains 'too raw' in the aftermath of his dethroning.
I tried to watch the fight with Leo Santa Cruz again but only got two rounds in when I had to turn it off.
It was too raw for me - it was just too annoying. I'll let things settle down before I watch the whole fight...I don't know when I'll be able to watch it all again.
He may be forced to examine his defeat in full sooner rather than later, however, as his team have already initiated talks with that of Santa Cruz about a third fight.
The Tigers Bay man is insistent that his next fight - be it versus Santa Cruz or otherwise - will take place in his home city, and has thrown down the gauntlet to Santa Cruz to live up to his word and throw down in Belfast.
My team are now working on the third fight, they're in negotiations and whatever happens my next fight will be in Belfast.
I've been on the road for a long time and my fans, many who can't afford to travel, deserve the chance to see me fight at home.
Leo Santa Cruz is a great guy, the two of us have shown each other respect in two great fights but I feel he will lose some respect if he doesn't honour his word and fight me in Belfast this summer.
While a Frampton-Santa Cruz trilogy fight would likely sell out Windsor Park three times over, there remains a sense that it wouldn't make financial sense when you consider the lucrative appeal of the same fight in Las Vegas or New York.
Nonetheless, we understand the McGuigans and Frampton's team still believe home court is a possibility. Time will tell whether they can force it over the line.
