Carl Frampton says his fight with Leo Santa Cruz on July 31 will be about “creating a legacy” for himself in boxing.
The Northern Irishman is already a world champion at super-bantamweight but, having chosen against a mandatory defence, lost his WBA belt at the mark.
He will now move up to featherweight to try and prove he can mix it with the bigger fighters and will be facing a fearsome competitor in Santa Cruz.
The Mexican is unbeaten as a professional, with the only blip from his 32 fights being a draw in his second outing.
With the Jackal also still to taste defeat in the paid ranks, there will be more than just the belt on the line in New York at the end of next month.
The 29-year-old is well aware of the questions being asked about his decision to step up, with it being suggested he was struggling to maintain himself at super-bantamweight.
Frampton admits making the mark did at times become difficult for him but says that he could not turn down the chance to join some of the greats by attempting to conquer the world in two separate weight divisions.
He told Boxing Talk: “This is more about creating a legacy for myself by beating a recognised fighter like Leo Santa Cruz than it is about struggling with weight.
“Of course I found it difficult to make 122 and I will be a stronger man at 126 but if I needed to I could have stayed at 122. I want to be a two weight world champion.”
Frampton is currently 2.20 to win in New York, with the draw 21.00 and the Santa Cruz the 1.73 favourite.
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