by David P. Greisman
Jesus Cuellar doesn’t see himself sticking around featherweight for much longer. But before he goes, he wants to take on one of the other best 126-pound fighters in the world.
“I want to fight two more fights at this weight and then move up,” Cuellar said immediately after defeating Jonathan Oquendo, according to a translation provided to press. “I want to fight Leo Santa Cruz next.”
Cuellar had scored three straight knockouts prior to this bout with Oquendo. In this bout, though, he needed activity and the distance — nearly 1,000 punches over the course of 12 rounds. Cuellar was 237 of 994 in total, with a large amount of jabs thrown, even if very few landed (he was 32 of 444). Cuellar was more known for power as he dispatched Juan Manuel Lopez in two rounds in 2014 and Vic Darchinyan in eight rounds earlier this year. Cuellar was 205 of 550 with power shots against Oquendo.
“He was a good opponent. I knew he was going to come forward but he used his head too much,” Cuellar said. “I wanted to knock him out. But the butting of the heads, it was impossible.”
Cuellar has been at featherweight since 2008, though he’s also fought as high as lightweight and as low as junior featherweight. Since August 2012 he’s been only at or just about 126, and he looks to gain a lot of weight between weigh-in and fight night.
A fight with Santa Cruz is a possibility. Both boxers are advised by Al Haymon. Santa Cruz has the World Boxing Association’s “super” title — a belt dubiously awarded to him for his win over Abner Mares earlier this year. Cuellar is the WBA’s “regular” titleholder.
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