Wednesday 25 January 2017 15:00, UK
Leo Santa Cruz will try and avenge his loss to Carl Frampton this Sunday morning and we asked one former opponent what it is like to fight ‘The Jackal’.
The Belfast star moved up in weight to hand Santa Cruz the first loss of his career in a thrilling battle last July, and the pair will go at it again at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports.
Welsh super-bantamweight Turley fought Frampton back in 2011 when the now two-weight world champion was still climbing the rankings, giving 'The Jackal' a much tougher than expected fight.
Despite losing a points decision, Turley cut Frampton during the 10-round contest and he has now given an insight into what it is like to share a ring with 'The Jackal'…
He's a tremendous fighter, one of the best in the world and seems to have it all. He's got a good punch, great movement, is good on the front foot and has fast hands - he really is a brilliant fighter.
He definitely hits hard. I remember our fight well and the first punch he landed, I could feel my legs kick out a bit. He landed some clean, beautiful shots all the way through, but I took them well.
Strangely, the last shot he hit me with shook me up and stiffened me up just like the first one had. Apart from those two moments though, he didn't hurt me, but I'm tough and have never been dropped. I did get a standing count in the fight, but it was more of a slip, his punch he supposedly landed only grazed the top of my head.
I remember the first time I met Carl, we were both boxing in Estonia at the European Championships and we were in the sauna having a good chat, he's a really nice man.
I will always remember his fight at that tournament because it was a brilliant one, probably fight of the tournament. Each fighter was throwing so many punches and Frampton got the decision on the scorecards. I knew then that he was a great fighter.
When I got the phone call to fight him, it was only two weeks away and I gladly took it. My biggest worry was getting the weight down, but we trained as much as we could in that fortnight and I was all set.
I knew that he was favourite to win by a long shot, but I wanted to just go in there and fight my game. At points in the fight, I could definitely see the look on his face thinking it wasn't meant to be this tough, I had him cut and he really wasn't expecting the fight to go this way.
When we fought, it was me who had all the footwork. I was on the back foot as he was coming towards me and I had to keep on my toes and was moving about nicely.
Now I see him fight and his footwork can be brilliant, he really has become a great all-round fighter.
I always knew his future was bright, but I was a bit surprised to see him claim world honours at two weights. He had all the makings of a superstar and I knew he would be super-bantamweight champion of the world, but I can't say I was expecting him to move up and be able to repeat the feat so impressively.
I can't see it going any differently, he's done the job once and will do it again. It will be a similar fight to the first, Santa Cruz will try and push it a bit more, but Frampton will win whatever type of fight we get. Santa Cruz is a tough Mexican fighter, so it will likely be a points win.
Frampton is a two weight world champ, his confidence is high and he is a great fighter - one of the best around, but personally, I think Selby is too much for him, he hits harder, has the range and is clever on his feet.
I'd love to see Selby against Frampton, I've shared the ring with them both and they are both brilliant fighters, the best about in their division. It's a great fight but I favour Lee Selby.
Watch Carl Frampton's rematch against Leo Santa Cruz and Lee Selby's IBF title defence against Jonathan Victor Barros in Las Vegas, live on Sky Sports 1, from 1am on Sunday January 29.