Leo Santa Cruz-Leigh Wood: WBA Formally Orders Title Consolidation Fight

Leo Santa Cruz has 30 days to decide whether he plans to return to featherweight.

An ordered title consolidation fight nearly a month in the making was finally called by the World Boxing Association (WBA), as Santa Cruz has been summoned to defend his WBA ‘Super’ featherweight belt against England’s Leigh Wood, the reigning WBA ‘World’ titlist at the weight. The sanctioning body vowed last summer to bring closure to the featherweight division, making good on that promise in its latest ruling.

“In another step of the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) world title reduction plan, the WBA Championships Committee ordered the bout between Featherweight Super Champion Leo Santa Cruz and champion Leigh Wood,” Carlos Chavez, chairman of the WBA Championship Committee stated in a formal letter to both parties, a copy of which was obtained by BoxingScene.com. “The goal is to have only one champion at 126 pounds and the winner of this bout will keep this distinction.

“Santa Cruz is the super champion of the category and reappeared in February when he defeated Keenan Carbajal in Las Vegas. The Mexican must now face Wood, who comes from defending his championship against Michael Conlan last March 12, in Nottingham.”

The two sides will have until May 6—thirty days from Wednesday’s order—to work out terms for such a fight. A purse bid hearing will be called if they fail to reach a deal during that time.

There is also the chance of Wood (26-2, 12KOs) emerging as the lone recognized WBA featherweight titlist without such a fight taking place.

Santa Cruz (38-2-1, 19KOs) has not fought at featherweight in more than three years, dating back to a February 2019 win over Rafael Rivera. Three straight bouts—spread out over a three-year stretch—have since taken place at junior lightweight, including a ten-round shutout of Keenan Carbajal this past February 5 in Las Vegas.

The win over Carbajal was preceded by assurances from Santa Cruz and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) that his next fight would take place at featherweight. The word of the four-division titlist from Southern California by way of Mexico was taken as a promise by the WBA in justifying their allowing him to retain the belt he has held since August 2015 but which he has not defended in more than three years.

Wood claimed his version of the belt in an upset 12th round knockout of China’s Can Xu last July in Brentwood, Essex, England. His first title defense serves as a leading candidate for 2022 Fight and Knockout of the Year, doing so in a dramatic 12th round knockout of unbeaten Michael Conlan this past March 12 in his hometown of Nottingham, England.

Wood was dropped in the opening round and trailed on all three scorecards before rallying to floor Conlan late in round eleven before sending him out of the ring in ending their epic fight with just 1:25 to go in the twelfth and final round. Talks have since swirled of a potential unification bout with countryman two-time IBF featherweight titlist Josh Warrington (31-1-1, 8KOs), who regained his crown in a seventh-round stoppage of Kiko Martinez on March 26 in his Leeds hometown.

The domestic rivalry would serve as a massive event in England, though cannot serve as a true unification bout while Wood remains a secondary WBA titlist. The path to upgrading his title status takes a significant step forward, as the next 30 days will determine whether Santa Cruz will keep his word and proceed with the fight, or if Wood can enjoy full title status. Either scenario provides the streaking Brit with a blockbuster fight within reach.

Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox