Carl Frampton beats Leo Santa Cruz to win WBA featherweight title

Carl Frampton has defeated Leo Santa Cruz on points in Brooklyn to become the new WBA world featherweight champion.

The 29-year-old came out on top as the clear winner by two of the judges, while the third saw the entertaining bout as a draw.

Frampton, the first boxer from Northern Ireland to win a world title in two weight divisions in what was his first pro fight at featherweight, made a strong start and had the defending champion on the ropes.

Cruz, never previously beaten heading into Saturday evening's bout, had to withstand a number of heavy hits in the second round but responded well with a flurry of punches.

It was the Belfast boxer who was proving the more effective, however, regaining the initiative and slowly building up an advantage after a solid sixth and seventh round showing by his opponent.

Cruz did finish strongly himself, but Frampton was made the winner by two judges who scored it 116-112 and 117-111 in the Ulsterman's favour.