Leo Santa Cruz: Pressure, Inside Fighting Beats Gonzalez

Sep 9, 2013 • 9:35 AM ET

Newly crowned WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (25-0-1, 15KOs) already has WBC featherweight champion Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8, 47KOs) in his view finder. Leo says he first wants to defend his title in November or December. There are several fighters in the mix. One is Cristian Mijares, another could be Hugo Cazares. Gonzalez won the title last month with a shocking first round TKO of Abner Mares, and the two of them will likely rematch in December.

But for Leo, a boxing ring with Jhonny Gonzalez in it to fight, is also on the cards. Already thinking ahead Leo said: "The plan to fight Jhonny would be to be careful and not get caught by one of his big hooks. To go inside and work the body, and not give him the distance, because with distance he can use his long reach. So to pressure Jhonny and avoid getting caught by one of his big punches."