Leo Santa Cruz Trains With Heavy Heart as Father Battles Cancer

By Miguel Rivera

WBA featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (32-0-1, 18KOs) is training hard for the biggest fight of his career, when he defends his title against Belfast superstar Carl Frampton (22-0, 14KOs) on July 30th at the Barclays Center in  Brooklyn, New York.

Santa Cruz, who captured three divisional titles, is training for the first time without his father and trainer, Jose Santa Cruz, who is battling cancer.

A few weeks ago, Leo was notified that his father was very ill and unable to train him for the upcoming fight with Frampton.

Santa Cruz admits it's hard to get ready in the gym, but mentally he's staying strong and feels he won't be affected when he steps in the ring with Frampton.

"Actually yes, fighting in the ring has been harder, but I have to be strong and we must fight, because as time passes everything will improve and God helps. My family has had to fight a lot, but in life you never know what can happen and we must be there to face whatever comes. We must fight and thank God," Santa Cruz told ESPN Deportes.

"At first it was very difficult, we did not know what would happen [with my father]. We did not know how he would react, but thank God that he is now going to treatments, chemotherapies, and he is being treated well. My dad is recovering and everything is positive, he is very strong of mind and I see that he is moving forward and I also see that he is improving and he will live many more years."

"In the absence of my father, my brother Antonio is watching me and training me, leading me and my dad comes when he can. When he doesn't have any chemotherapies, for example like today - he came to see me box."