Leo Santa Cruz Leaves WBA and WBC in The Dark
By Miguel Rivera
Leo Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17KOs) has yet to make his future intentions clear. Currently, Santa Cruz is the WBA's "super" champion at featherweight and the WBC's champion at super bantamweight.
Neither sanctioning body has been advised as to what Santa Cruz is planning, to remain at 126 or return to 122.
He moved up to 126 to win a twelve round decision over Southern California rival Abner Mares on August 29th at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
The victory over Mares gave him the vacant WBA "super" title. On the undercard of that show, Julio Ceja knocked out Hugo Ruiz to capture the WBC's interim title at 122.
If Santa Cruz remains at 126, he will eventually have to make a mandatory defense against WBA 'regular' champion Jesus Cuellar. If he returns to 122, he will have to make a mandatory defense against Ceja.
"We sent a communication to [Santa Cruz's manager] Al Haymon, indicating that the mandatory opponent is Cuellar, and they have a year to confront him, but they have not given us an answer [on what they want to do]," said WBA VP Gilbertio Mendoza Jr.
"On the other hand, Jesus Cuellar's team has asked us to reduce the time for the mandatory fight, from one year to nine months."
