By Edward Chaykovsky

Last Saturday night, Carl Frampton (22-0, 14KOs) unified the WBA/IBF super bantamweight world titles with a twelve round unanimous decision over longtime rival Scott Quigg at the Manchester Arena.

Frampton is now stuck with his back against the wall as both sanctioning bodies have ordered him to make mandatory defenses.

The IBF had previously issued an order for the Frampton-Quigg winner to face Shingo Wake (20-4-2, 12KOs) of Japan in a first defense. Earlier this week, the WBA issued an order for Quigg to make a defense against two-time Olympic gold medal winner Guillermo Rigondeaux (16-0, 10KOs).

He has to make the defense against Rigondeaux by July 27.

Frampton's manager and promoter, Barry McGuigan, admits Wake is the most obvious fight for Frampton. In doing so, he will be forced to vacate his WBA title.

McGuigan is not a big fan of Rigondeaux's style, which drew an army of boos for his last fight on the Miguel Cotto-Saul Alvarez PPV from last November. Rigondeaux previously held the WBA/WBO titles at 122-pounds, but was stripped of both due to inactivity.

"We are more inclined to go down that route [against Shingo Wake]," confirmed McGuigan to the Belfast Telegraph.

Frampton is also looking to get WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz in the ring. Santa Cruz was also in action last Saturday night and knocked out former champion Kiko Martinez in five rounds. Martinez was beaten by Frampton twice.

In order to move up for Santa Cruz, Frampton would likely have to vacate both belts unless the sanctioning bodies gave him permission to go up there.