Boxing needed something special from featherweights Carl The Jackal Frampton and Leo El Terremoto Santa Cruz last Saturday. Something to make up for Terence Crawfords comprehensive but less-than-dazzling unanimous decision over Viktor Postol the previous week and Deontay Wilders mismatch with Chris Arreola the week before that.Boxing needed a fight like Keith Thurmans bitterly contested decision over Shawn Porter on June 23, an intense struggle in which two world-class welterweights gambled everything in an all-out bid for glory.Not every fight can be a classic, but to bring the masses back into the fold, the sport requires as many reminders as possible of just how great boxing can be.Frampton and Santa Cruz gave us all that and more. They gave us one of those magic moments boxing fans live for, the kind that makes following this perpetually troubled sport worthwhile.You wont see athletes in any other sport do what Frampton and Santa Cruz did. They entered territory where only heroes dare to tread. It was special in a way unique to boxing.1. At its best, boxing is still sports greatest spectacleThere comes a time in almost all great fights when the boxers seem to become caught up in something bigger than themselves. Its as if theyve been carried away by the frenzy of excitement and pushed beyond the bounds of normal human endurance.Frampton and Santa Cruz charged into that unforgiving realm in the second round and never looked back. They went at each other in a series of breathtaking attacks and counterattacks, round after round, flurry after flurry. Just when it looked like one of them was taking control, the other rallied back.The exchanges were awe-inspiring and virtually ceaseless, right up until the closing seconds when Frampton and Santa Cruz tore into one another a final time with an abandon bordering on desperation.The 9,062 fans in attendance inside Brooklyns Barclays Center cheered themselves hoarse, leaped to their feet on numerous occasions and gave the fighters a standing ovation before the start of the 12th round and again at the final bell.It was boxing the way its supposed to be: a raw display of humanitys indomitable spirit and will to win.2. Frampton is better than a lot of people thoughtIts easy to understand why Santa Cruz was favored, at least on this side of the Atlantic. He was an undefeated veteran with 11 title-fight victories to his credit, an aggressive volume puncher who could be relied on to attack.Frampton, on the other hand, had looked a bit vulnerable in his two previous bouts, getting knocked down twice by Alejandro Gonzalez Jr. and playing it a little too safe against Scott Quigg. To be fair, he won both of those fights, but he failed to impress the American audience.Against Santa Cruz, on the biggest night of his career, the Belfast man was better than hed ever been before.Maybe moving up from junior featherweight to featherweight had something to do with it. After all, Frampton said that making 122 pounds was killing him. Then theres Santa Cruzs walk-in style, which makes him a relatively easy target. Who knows? Perhaps the enormity of the occasion helped pushed him to a different level.Whatever the reason, this time, when he needed it the most, Frampton actually fought like a jackal.3. Quality over quantity was the deciderAccording to CompuBox, Santa Cruz connected with 255 punches to Framptons 242. Even so, most observers agreed that Frampton deserved a close decision. That he hit harder than Santa Cruz became clear in the second round when he staggered Santa Cruz with a left hook.There were times when the sheer volume of Santa Cruzs output looked like it might be enough to sweep him to victory. But as Larry Merchant used to preach, punch stats are quantitative, not qualitative. When you get right down to it, it was the superiority of Framptons punches that made the difference.4. Frampton has plenty of optionsTalk of a rematch began as soon Framptons arm was raised, which is understandable considering how wildly entertaining and well-fought the first fight was.Moreover, according to Santa Cruzs camp, hes contractually guaranteed a return bout. It might not be Framptons next defense, but unless either of them loses in the interim, Frampton-Santa Cruz II should eventually happen.Frampton has a few attractive matches back home in the U.K., including Wales Lee Selby, who also owns a featherweight title, and Quigg, who would gladly move up four pounds from junior featherweight to get another crack at the only man who beat him.Other highly capable contenders, including American Gary Russell (who also owns a piece of the featherweight title), undefeated Mexican knockout artist Oscar Valdez and Argentine slugger Jesus Cuellar, would all fit well with Frampton.5. The McGuigan factorThe image of former featherweight titleholder Barry McGuigan with his head bent in prayer between the end of the fight and the announcement of the decision was remarkable -- a famous man having a private moment in a very public setting.McGuigan remains a popular public personality in the U.K., where his sharp mind and magnetic personality serve him well. Hes never strayed far from boxing, but managing Frampton has put The Clones Cyclone back on the international stage.McGuigan is still spry and bright-eyed, enjoying his new role and the success of his son, Shane, who trains Frampton. You get the feeling hed fight just as hard for his fighters as he once did for himself and Ireland. Justin Pugh Womens Jersey .C. -- Glenn Howard needed an extra end to move into the Masters Grand Slam of Curling final. Larry Fitzgerald Jersey . Boucher previously coached the Tampa Bay Lightning and had a 97-78-20 record over two-plus seasons. He was dismissed by the team last March after the Lightning struggled in the lockout-shortened season with a 13-18-1 record. http://www.nflcardinalsrookiestore.com/Cardinals-Pat-Tillman-Jersey/ . Gather a group of friends, or find a league to join online, draft your team, set your lineup and compete in a number of different formats. Zach Allen Cardinals Jersey . The move comes after the Canadiens were approached by the Buffalo Sabres for permission to speak to Dudley - a former Sabres player and head coach. "The Sabres called for permission and I appreciate that, Im flattered, Dudley told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun of ESPN. Adrian Wilson Jersey . "Jeff is a hard worker who was an important special-teams contributor for us last season," said Stamps GM John Hufnagel. DETROIT -- By Detroits standards, this was a comfortable, drama-free victory.The Lions beat the Jacksonville Jaguars 26-19 on Sunday , extending a streak in which every Detroit game this season has been decided by seven points or fewer. But the Lions needed no last-ditch passes from Matthew Stafford or long kicks from Matt Prater in this one.Our mindset is not that, `Keep it close and see if we can win. Thats not our mindset, coach Jim Caldwell said. But nevertheless, its just the way its happening, so you have to accept that and find a way to win.Detroit took a 23-19 lead on a 1-yard touchdown run by Eric Ebron with 10:03 remaining. The Lions (6-4) then forced a punt and took possession with 8:19 to play, and they were able to run out almost all the remaining time.You can sit there and say you hope that the defense stops them again and you get the ball back, but as an offense, I dont think you can ever say, `Well get another opportunity, Jacksonville quarterback Blake Bortles said. We knew we had an opportunity up three to go put it away and we didnt do it, so its on us.On fourth-and-2 from the Jacksonville 46, the Lions lined up as if to go and drew defensive lineman SenDerrick Marks offside. The encroachment penalty with 2:34 remaining gave Detroit a new set of downs.Its a heat of the moment, its a physical game and hes trying to make a play for his team, Stafford said. Ive been on the sideline and seen guys on our team do it before. Its a tough situation to be in.The Lions eventually took a seven-point lead on Praters 43-yard field goal with 22 seconds left, and the Jaguars (2-8) didnt come close to challenging in the final seconds.Here are a few things learned from Detroits victory over Jacksonville:ALL-PURPOSE THREAT: Detroits Andre Roberts can impact the game in many ways. Roberts muffed a punt in the first quarter, giving the Jaguars great field position, bbut he was terrific after that.dddddddddddd Roberts returned a punt 55 yards for a touchdown in the second quarter, and he caught a 44-yard pass in the third. He also hustled over to throw a nice downfield block on a 61-yard reception by Ebron in the fourth.NEED TO CAPITALIZE: Its not enough just to force turnovers. After five straight games without a takeaway, the Jaguars recovered two Detroit fumbles, but managed only three points off them. That was disappointing for Jacksonville, because the fumble by Roberts gave the Jaguars possession at the Detroit 11.We said, `We need a turnover. We got turnovers. `We want to play with the lead. We got the lead, Jaguars defensive lineman Malik Jackson said. I dont know what to ask for to try to get a better game. These guys are going out here playing hard. Were playing consistent. Weve just got to find it, whatever it is.NO BALANCE: The Lions are still having a hard time establishing the run. They managed only 14 yards on 21 carries against Jacksonville, and that was part of the reason Detroit had only one offensive touchdown.NO GIMMES: Extra points arent freebies. On a day when kickers struggled all around the league, Prater had an extra point blocked and Jacksonvilles Jason Myers missed one wide to the right. That led to the odd-looking final score in a game that could have easily ended up 27-20.Myers did make a 52-yard field goal in the third quarter.SHOWDOWN: Thanksgiving in Detroit should be even bigger than usual. The Lions and Minnesota remain tied for first in the NFC North, and theyll play at Ford Field on Thursday.Jacksonville visits Buffalo on Sunday.---For more NFL coverage: http://www.pro32.ap.org and http://www.twitter.com/AP-NFL .---Follow Noah Trister at www.Twitter.com/noahtrister ' ' '
