Tickled by the Feathers: Carl Frampton Adds Extra Spice to a Tasty Division

When Carl Frampton defeated Leo Santa Cruz on points on July 30, the result didn't so much as throw a cat among the pigeons as propel a "Jackal" into a division already loaded with predators.

In snatching the WBA Super title away from his Mexican opponent in Brooklyn, New York, the Northern Irishman made himself a serious player in the featherweight ranks.

He also buried the memory of the damp squib that was his unification clash with domestic rival Scott Quigg at super bantamweight. That February fight was forgettable, but, against Santa Cruz, Frampton served up a real treat.

Freed of a little pressure on the scales after moving up in weight, the 29-year-old dazzled in front of an American audience.

There were plenty of power shots, particularly chopping hooks, as he showed a willingness to stand and trade. In the end, Frampton had well and truly earned his points victory by a majority decision.

On Friday, Frampton's home city of Belfast came out in force to welcome back their hero.

Now, with the dust having settled and the bars in the Big Apple finally clean again following a seriously big after-fight party, it is time to take in the featherweight landscape. The view at the top looks marvellous, too.

There is a rematch clause in Frampton's contract with Santa Cruz, and they could meet again before the end of the year. No one should complain about having to see a second episode, considering the absorbing spectacle they served up first time around.

Premier Boxing Champions will be particularly delighted at the small print in the original deal, considering both fighters are on their lengthy roster. They also have two other world champions at 126 pounds in their stable: Gary Russell Jr. and Lee Selby.

Promoter Jamie Sanigar, who looks after Welshman Selby, floated the suggestion of a structured series as a way of finding out who is the best featherweight around.

"Really, whether it’s a tournament structure or not, all these guys can feature in megafights. Six, eight or even 10 fights back-to-back can be made involving these fighters," he told Phil D Jay of World Boxing News.

The tournament idea is an intriguing one. In an age where the number of governing bodies has somewhat diluted the value of a world title, it would be wonderful to know exactly who is top dog in the division.

PBC could make it happen, too. As well as Frampton, Santa Cruz, Selby and Russell Jr., they have a plethora of other fighters to throw into the mix. 

Miguel Flores and Jorge Lara, plus former world champion Abner Mares, all feature in their stable of boxers. They could even call upon veteran Spaniard Kiko Martinez—a former Frampton foe—as well. That alone is a solid list of names to potentially take part in a knockout series.

However, there are others who could also be tempted to sign up. Jesus Cuellar is the WBA's regular champion and Oscar Valdez holds the WBO strap—why not get every world champion involved?

No matter who agreed to take part, a knockout tournament would benefit all parties concerned. The fans get to watch good fights while PBC gets a product (and what a horrible word that is to use) to push to a wider audience on American television. Oh, and the fighters would be well paid for their efforts, too.

Broadcasters Showtime tried something similar in the super middleweight division several years ago, creating the Super Six World Boxing Classic. It was a bold idea that promised much but ended up being badly hit by withdrawals. The competition had to cope with more hurdles than a Grand National runner. That's the thing with boxing—it doesn't always work out quite how it should.

The Super Six lost two major players—Mikkel Kessler and Jermain Taylor—due to injury. With a points system in place during the group stage, it all became rather confusing when replacements were drafted in. With a straightforward knockout event, there would be no such complications.

This current collection of featherweights allows us to get excited about the future. Frampton's rematch with Santa Cruz is good enough to be a final of a knockout tournament, but their second meeting could at least kick-start a run of mouthwatering bouts at the weight.

For Frampton, it is the reward for years of hard work. He told Sky Sports (h/t Tim Hobbs of SkySports.com):

"

All the fights are big from here on in.

There's no easy options any more and that's the way it should be. I'm not the youngest guy in the world, I'm 29 and feel like I've given my whole life to boxing, so I am reaping the rewards now.

I am a two-weight world champion. I am entitled to be involved in big fights now and I am happy with that.

"

Russell Jr.—who tops The Ring magazine's rankings—was ringside at the Barclays Center last month to see the new champion crowned.

So was Selby—and he would relish a lucrative showdown with Frampton in Britain, whether it be in Belfast or Cardiff, Wales. Sanigar told Boxing News' George Gigney that the bout is "top of the list" for his fighter.

Steve Luciano/Associated Press

It helps that Sanigar worked in conjunction with Cyclone Promotions—Barry McGuigan's company which takes care of Frampton—to put on a major show in the Welsh capital earlier this year.

The clause with Santa Cruz is going to scupper the plan in the short term, though Frampton also told Sky Sports he would be up for a stadium fight with Selby in either the spring or summer of next year.

Russell Jr., however, would be a wonderful second option for the Welshman. The American was last seen dismantling Patrick Hyland in a hurry in April. He has won three on the spin since being beaten by Vasyl Lomachenko in June 2014, and even that loss was by a slender margin on the scorecards.

Frampton-Santa Cruz II and Russell Jr.-Selby would make a great double bill toward the end of the year, particularly if the winners of each bout agreed to face each other in 2017.

The American writer George Leonard once said: "Competition is the spice of sports; but if you make spice the whole meal you'll be sick."

Boxing fans have been served up enough tasteless stuff in recent years, but this current crop of highly skilled fighters at featherweight should have everyone salivating like a starving dog waiting for his dinner.

The division was already bubbling up nicely, but Frampton's arrival has spiced things up nicely.

Follow @RobLancs79