by Miguel Rivera
Leo "El Terremoto" Santa Cruz, (31-0-1, 17 KOs) has no plans to return to the super bantamweight division. He moved up to featherweight on Saturday and capture the vacant WBA title with a twelve round majority decision over Abner Mares, (29-2-1, 15 KOs) at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, California.
The World Boxing Council approved Santa Cruz's move to go up. He still holds the WBC's championship at 122-pounds.
The WBC then ordered Julio Ceja, (30-1, 27 KOs) to fight Hugo Ruiz, (35-2, 30 KOs) in a battle for the vacant interim-WBA title at 122. If Santa Cruz decided to move down, he would have been ordered to face Ceja next.
Santa Cruz will remain at 126 and Ceja will likely get elevated to the full championship position.
"I'm not going down. I won't back to 122. I'm 100% staying at featherweight now," Santa Cruz.