Frampton-Santa Cruz II promised so much - and it delivered. 

But after 12 tight rounds Northern Ireland's Carl Frampton finally suffered the first defeat of his professional career as Leo Santa Cruz won on points to regain the WBA featherweight title..

If you missed your alarm call, then catch up here.

And, perhaps, join us again later this year for Frampton-Santa Cruz III... See you later!

I can't imagine anyone from Northern Ireland wasn't tuning in this morning...

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Amir Khan
Former unified light-welterweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

Amir Khan, asked about a fight against long-standing rival Kell Brook this year, tells BBC Radio 5 live: "We want the fight, yes. Kell wants it, I want it, why doesn't Eddie Hearn pick up the phone and make it happen?

"... I've been in Oakland for four weeks, training camp's going really well. Next fight I'm looking at mid-April. Opponent-wise I'm not sure yet.

"Going into a big mega fight is not going to happen, I want to see how the hand feels but maybe by the end of the year push for a bigger fight.

"It could be here [in the US] or in the UK."

While our buddies over at BBC Radio 5 live had Amir Khan behind the mic, they took the chance to ask him about the fight many want to see - him against Kell Brook.

Here's what he said...

Barry McGuigan, Frampton's manager, on Sky Sports: "These two young men are fantastic for boxing - they represent everything that is good about the sport.

"Carl emptied his tank, but didn't fight technically as well as he could. But it was a magnificent fight. I thought Leo deserved to win it.

"I hope they will go back to Belfast, repaying these travelling fans for spending their hard-earned money. We owe it to them to bring it back to Belfast."

Amir Khan
Former unified light-welterweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

The fight was brilliant, I had Santa Cruz by two rounds. Even those two were very hard to score, they were very hard.

One thing to I'll say to Frampton though: "Keep your chin up, you did all Britain proud."

Shane McGuigan, Frampton's trainer, on Sky Sports: "No excuses, it was a nip and tuck fight. I think we will get Santa Cruz again, and I know Carl has ability to beat him again.

"We weren't really expecting to box on the back foot, but we were a bit sluggish, he was a bit tired down the stretch but it is one of those things."

Carl Frampton, who lost for the first time in 24 fights, talking to Sky Sports: "It was the right decision. I felt it was close. He was frustrating me at times.

"My feet were a bit slow, I needed to let my hands go a bit more when I got close. We had a fantastic training camp, I felt completely prepared. I just want to apologise - I feel like I've let the people down."

On another rematch: "Who knows this could be four, five or six. Let's do it again. I'm deeply disappointed but the positive is 'let's make it a trilogy, link our names together forever and hopefully I can win 2-1'."

Image source, Getty Images

Northern Irish golfer Rory McIlroy, a big Frampton fan, praises his compatriot on Twitter...

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Amir Khan
Former unified light-welterweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

You have to come back stronger and what Carl will be thinking is what mistakes he made.

He'll take time off to think about what he did wrong but even though he lost he put on a great performance.

I think both of them would probably need a tune-up fight before a rematch.

With fighters like Carl, the younger generation will be watching him and thinking 'we want to be there, we want to do what Frampton did'.

Northern Ireland's Carl Frampton after losing the WBA featherweight title: "I felt Leo deserved it. He used his reach and he deserved it. It was a very good fight. There are no excuses from me, just the better man won.

"I want to apologise to the travelling support. I'm gutted. Leo told me what he was going to do but the brawler was outboxing the boxer.

"It's 1-1 and we have to do it again."

Leo Santa Cruz after regaining the WBA featherweight title from Carl Frampton: "I worked hard and I did what I had to do. I said Carl Frampton was a great fighter and he showed it. I said I would make it a third fight if I won and I'm a man of my word. Of course, I'm happy for a third fight. We're both great fighters and we deserve it."

Amir Khan
Former unified light-welterweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

I think it'll probably happen again. Both fighters fought a great fight, it was non stop, toe-to-toe - an all Mexican fight.

Overall it was a great fight and I think it can happen again and I think the third could be even better as they'll want to prove who's better.

It was always going to be close because they have styles that suit each other. 

You can see in this fight especially. Santa Cruz was not the pressure fighter, he was stepping back more in this one as Frampton moved forward.

The best man won but what a great fight it was for the viewers.

Image source, Getty Images

Kappa Albion: Santa Cruz the classier boxer tonight, won by 3.   

Andrew Priestley: Trilogy fight at Windsor Park, Belfast to come...

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So what about Frampton-Santa Cruz III then? The Mexican says he wants it, the Northern Irishman says he wants it. That looks to be nailed on then. Belfast?

All smiles from Frampton as he warmly embraces Santa Cruz. That's the measure of these two men. Full of respect and class.

Mike Costello
Radio 5 live boxing correspondent in Las Vegas

It was desperately close once again but he's won it on two judges' scorecards.

He's come back and wrested his belt back. That's the measure of a great champion

Everything about this tonight suggests a trilogy...

Santa Cruz wins it. Just. It's a majority decision in favour of the Mexican.

One judge calls it 114-114, the other two going 115-113 in favour of Santa Cruz.

Santa Cruz regains the belt that Frampton snatched from him last summer.

Amir Khan
Former unified light-welterweight world champion on BBC Radio 5 live

I gave that last round to Santa Cruz. He's got it by two rounds I think. 

That last round was amazing though. Santa Cruz was pushing Frampton back. Carl was making too many mistakes.

It was an amazing fight. The last few seconds they were going toe-to-toe was; it like watching Morales-Barrera.

There were some big bombs going off.

Mike Costello
Radio 5 live boxing correspondent in Las Vegas

A warm, warm embrace. There are no celebrations. They cannot be sure who won, it's been so, so close.