From the moment he was dealt his first career defeat, Carl Frampton has wanted nothing more than a shot at redemption.

It was a courtesy extended to Leo Santa Cruz, whom Frampton defeated in July 2016 to win the featherweight title after having unified two titles at junior featherweight. The two entered an immediate rematch six months later, with Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19KOs) avenging his lone career defeat with a 12-round decision win in their January 2017 sequel.

As for part three, it sounds good to at least one party.

“Absolutely. I’ve been talking about the third fight with Leo Santa Cruz, probably for—I think—way too long,” Frampton (27-2, 15KOs) expressed to Top Rank’s Crystina Poncher as part of the Catching Up With Crystina series on the company’s YouTube channel. “The issue was it was what I really wanted, and Leo didn’t really seem as keen.”

To say that the two have since went their separate ways would be an understatement. The bout was Frampton’s last under the Premier Boxing Champions umbrella, resurfacing in his hometown of Belfast, Northern Ireland where his next three starts would take place. The local run included a 12-round win over future Hall of Fame star Nonito Donaire, eventually leading to a failed title bid versus unbeaten 126-pound titlist Josh Warrington in their December 2018 slugfest in Manchester, England.

Santa Cruz has fought just four times since then, recently adding a 130-pound title to his arsenal. The 31-year old Mexican star—who is now based in Southern California—is now being groomed for a high-profile showdown with unbeaten former two-time junior lightweight titlist Gervonta Davis (23-0, 22KOs) later this year.

Meanwhile, Frampton has since returned stateside, claiming a 10-round shutout win of previously unbeaten Tyler McCreary last November in Las Vegas. The fight was his first since signing with Top Rank last year, and putting him in position to challenge for a strap in a third weight class. The former two-division titlist is due to face reigning 130-pound title claimant Jamel Herring (21-2, 10KOs) once boxing is able to return in the aftermath of the current coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic.

All of his attention is focused on that bout, primarily because there’s little else to distract him from the task of hand. Least of all, a rubber match with Santa Cruz which he’s long ago stopped believing would become a reality.

“Do I ever see the [third] fight happening? To be honest, no,” notes Frampton. “And it’s a shame. There’s a few people to blame for the third fight not happening.

“Two great fights, one apiece. It’s like, “Why?” Why is it not happening?  “But, don’t look at me.”

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox