By Miguel Rivera
As previously reported, WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz appeared on The Zone Radio and confirmed the recent statements by Golden Boy Promotions President Oscar De La Hoya, who said Santa Cruz's manager Al Haymon rejected WBA/WBA champion Guillermo Rigondeaux as a possible opponent.
"Haymon told me that it wouldn't be an interesting fight and none of the fans would be happy to see that fight," Santa Cruz said.
According to De La Hoya, the moment he tried to negotiate a unification bout between Santa Cruz (29-0-1, 17KOs) and Rigondeaux (15-0, 10KOs) - Santa Cruz's manager Al Haymon stepped in and exercised a clause where he was able to immediately purchase the unbeaten Mexican's contract.
"I was negotiating with Rigo's people on making Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rigondeaux - because that is the fight that the fans want to see and that's the fight that apparently, or supposedly, that Leo Santa Cruz had been asking for. We had a buyout clause in our contract with Leo Santa Cruz. And what happened? They executed the buyout and they bought us out - because they don't want that fight to happen," De La Hoya explained to BoxingScene.com.
Santa Cruz would still love to get Rigondeaux in the ring. He says if it was "his decision" he would fight the Cuban champion next.
“I always want to fight against the best, and I would just love to shut this guy up," Santa Cruz angrily confirmed. “I want to fight the best fighters but at the right time. This fight will happen eventually. If it was my decision I would fight him immediately."
