Lee Selby wants Carl Frampton to win his world title rematch with Leo Santa Cruz to set up unification

Lee Selby is backing Carl Frampton to beat Leo Santa Cruz again.

The IBF featherweight world champion wants 'The Jackal' to win the rematch in Las Vegas on January 28, so it will set up an all-British unification fight later next year.

Selby, who is still waiting for confirmation of his next mandatory defence, was responding to Santa Cruz suggesting he will fight him after regaining the WBA 'Super' title he lost to Frampton in July.

But the 'Welsh Mayweather' wants his fellow British world champion to produce a repeat performance and deny the prospect of a trilogy getting in the way of the fight he has been chasing ever since that first fight.

Carl Frampton out-pointed Leo Santa Cruz in their first fight

"I will fight the winner, no problem, but if I am honest, I would like Frampton to win because obviously he's a British fighter and we always root for each other but a fight between me and him would be the biggest one," Selby told Sky Sports.

"And of course, if Santa Cruz beats Frampton, it will be all square and then everyone will be looking for a decider. I wouldn't want to see that from my point of view.

Leo Santa Cruz will target a unification clash against IBF champion Lee Selby if he wins a January rematch with Carl Frampton Leo Santa Cruz will target a unification clash against IBF champion Lee Selby if he wins a January rematch with Carl Frampton

"I hope Frampton wins. He is the one I want to fight."

Selby was hoping to defend his own title against mandatory challenger Jonathan Victor Barros this year but is still waiting to find out when and where it will take place.

The unbeaten 29-year-old is expecting it to happen in early 2017 but admits it could well work in his favour - and wouldn't even mind being on the same card as Frampton-Santa Cruz II.

Jonathan Barros of Argentina is Selby's mandatory challenger

"If there is something good to come out of it, is the timing," he said. "I know I have to get past this mandatory then want the big fights and with Frampton-Santa Cruz happening at the end of January, it will put me in time with the winner of that.

"I should be on one of those big fights in the new year. I leave it all to my managers but it would make sense for me to be on the same card as Frampton and Santa Cruz.

Lee Selby's manager Chris Sanigar has already said he wants his man to fight Carl Frampton with two titles on the line Lee Selby's manager Chris Sanigar has already said he wants his man to fight Carl Frampton with two titles on the line

"People will get to see me, then those two and then the comparisons will be natural and then everyone watching will see what is next.

"Believe me, even if I was the fight before them, I would be ringside to watch them. Even if I wasn't on the card and already got past Barros, I would fly out to watch it like I did last time."