Carl Frampton has agreed to defend his WBA featherweight title in a rematch with Leo Santa Cruz later this year, according to the Mexican's father Jose.
In July, Frampton scored a points victory over the previously-unbeaten Santa-Cruz as he became a two-weight world champion, and the Northern Irishman was soon linked with several lucrative fights for the end of the year.
However, it now appears that he will face Santa Cruz for a second time, with Jose Santa Cruz claiming that Los Angeles or Las Vegas will stage the rematch.
He told ESPN Deportes: "Well it seems that the plans are going well and [Frampton] will provide a direct rematch as my son wanted. My son has returned to the gym. He said it could be in Las Vegas or Los Angeles. Let's hope so.
"Leo has not signed anything but they have already said yes to doing the fight, which will be a direct rematch. We are just missing the date and venue but it would be the end of the year in one of those two locations."
Both men have also held world titles at super-bantamweight, while Santa Cruz started his career on the global scene by capturing the IBF belt at bantamweight.
Darren Plant
