By Miguel Rivera
José Santa Cruz believes that his son, WBA featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz, will have his best year as a boxer.
Santa Cruz will return on February 16 at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles against Rafael Rivera.
He wants his son to have one or two big fights before invading the division of 130 pounds.
The father and trainer of the three division world champion highlighted that everyone will see a new and improved version of Santa Cruz on fight night.
Santa Cruz is looking to move up to the super featherweight division in the very near future.
"Today we are basically closing the strongest part of the training, we need a week of light work and then rest, I think that after this fight will come a big one, maybe a unification," the trainer told ESPN Deportes.
"I believe that this year will be the best of Leo. He feels very motivated, he wants to fight at 130 pounds, but we are going to do one or two more at 126 pounds to see if the opportunity to fight at 130 arrives, and then we are going to do it, he is very motivated.
Against Rafael Rivera, Leo will hold his first fight since he defeated Abner Mares for the second time in June 2018. This will be the third consecutive defense of the featherweight title of the World Boxing Association.
"Mentally, I see Leo being better than ever, I said that this is like a new stage in his career, because he continues to learn, and remember I said this, this stage will be the best," added the veteran coach.
"I am learning myself , I like to see some details, and learn, and I am transmitting them to Leo, some punches that we had that were weak and now we are improving them."