Leo Santa Cruz: If No Big Fight After Avalos - I'll Go Up To 130

[Ruthless-RKO]

Leo Santa Cruz accepts the fact that Chris Avalos may not be the opponent that the fans expected for his next return in 2017, but he still believes that Avalos will not be an easy opponent.

He says Avalos stands in the way of his big 2018 plans, which include a rematch with Abner Mares and the third fight with Carl Frampton.

Santa Cruz (31-1-1, 18 KOs) will defend his WBA featherweight title against Avalos (27-5, 20 KOs) on October 14 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Initially Santa Cruz was being position to face Mares, who holds the WBA "regular" title at 126-pounds, but Santa Cruz indicated that he wanted an interim-fight before the rematch takes place in early 2018.

Santa Cruz, who hasn't fought since beating Frampton in January, wanted a decent fight to shake off the rust - but views Avalos as a dangerous opponent.

"I do not underestimate any fighter, for me every fighter is tough, dangerous. In the ring everything can happen, sometimes the fans are hard [on a fighter], but if they were in our place they would understand that there is no easy opponent in the ring... we both have hands, power. Chris Avalos is a puncher, has 20 knockout in 27 fights, he's fought the best, with Oscar Valdez, Carl Frampton, with the Filipino (Mark Magsayo), other fighters, so I take him as a strong fight," Santa Cruz told ESPN Deportes.

"I was training for the fight with [Mares], and afterwards they told me that it was not going to be with Mares. My dad told me that because we both had gone a long time without fighting, Mares since December and me since January - he thought my body would not be prepared, so I wanted a fight beforehand and then with Mares. We wanted a fight to see how we feel and if we win - we go forward with the tough fight with Mares. We know that Mares is tough, he's a great fighter and I want to go in there at one hundred percent.

"I think that I still have time at featherweight. I want to do some more fights. After this fight we want to go fight with the best... Mares, Frampton, Oscar Valdez, Gary Russell, Lee Selby, any of those fighters..... and if we do not reach an agreement [with any of them], then we are going to 130 pounds."

[Andrew]

Leo Santa Cruz accepts the fact that Chris Avalos may not be the opponent that the fans expected for his next return in 2017, but he still believes that Avalos will not be an easy opponent.

He says Avalos stands in the way of his big 2018 plans, which include a rematch with Abner Mares and the third fight with Carl Frampton.

Santa Cruz (31-1-1, 18 KOs) will defend his WBA featherweight title against Avalos (27-5, 20 KOs) on October 14 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Initially Santa Cruz was being position to face Mares, who holds the WBA "regular" title at 126-pounds, but Santa Cruz indicated that he wanted an interim-fight before the rematch takes place in early 2018.

Santa Cruz, who hasn't fought since beating Frampton in January, wanted a decent fight to shake off the rust - but views Avalos as a dangerous opponent.

"I do not underestimate any fighter, for me every fighter is tough, dangerous. In the ring everything can happen, sometimes the fans are hard [on a fighter], but if they were in our place they would understand that there is no easy opponent in the ring... we both have hands, power. Chris Avalos is a puncher, has 20 knockout in 27 fights, he's fought the best, with Oscar Valdez, Carl Frampton, with the Filipino (Mark Magsayo), other fighters, so I take him as a strong fight," Santa Cruz told ESPN Deportes.

"I was training for the fight with [Mares], and afterwards they told me that it was not going to be with Mares. My dad told me that because we both had gone a long time without fighting, Mares since December and me since January - he thought my body would not be prepared, so I wanted a fight beforehand and then with Mares. We wanted a fight to see how we feel and if we win - we go forward with the tough fight with Mares. We know that Mares is tough, he's a great fighter and I want to go in there at one hundred percent.

"I think that I still have time at featherweight. I want to do some more fights. After this fight we want to go fight with the best... Mares, Frampton, Oscar Valdez, Gary Russell, Lee Selby, any of those fighters..... and if we do not reach an agreement [with any of them], then we are going to 130 pounds."

Mares went 15 months out and went straight in with Cuellar who was considered around top 10.

Mares has also been out of the ring a month longer than Santa Cruz and has been very clear that he wanted to fight Leo on this date.

Leo gained so much credibility in the past year now he is just throwing it away.

Pathetic.

[Ossyrules]

I'd like the decider with Frampton. Avalos is a poor choice of opponent imo. It'd be refreshing to see Santa Cruz come over to the UK and see how he goes giving up home soil, but that won't happen

He would have success at 130 if matched right

[Boxing Prospect]

How does Avalos get a chance...for shame on the WBA!

[Tanzio]

Man up, LSC. TRex Jr would be more than happy to fight you.

[Mexi-Box]

I'd like the decider with Frampton. Avalos is a poor choice of opponent imo. It'd be refreshing to see Santa Cruz come over to the UK and see how he goes giving up home soil, but that won't happen

He would have success at 130 if matched right

I don't see Santa Cruz having much success. Dudes at 130 lbs. currently are all gigantic and come in as WWs. Berchelt beats Santa Cruz easily. I don't think Santa Cruz would get past Vargas or Salido either. Santa Cruz isn't a big FW. He'd be undersized at 130 lbs.

He probably beats Corrales though.

[Mexi-Box]

Man up, LSC. TRex Jr would be more than happy to fight you.

T-Rex Jr. took forever to fight Escandon. I'm not sure when the hell this guy was more than happy to fight someone with a pulse.

[Tanzio]

Man up, LSC. TRex Jr would be more than happy to fight you.

T-Rex Jr. took forever to fight Escandon. I'm not sure when the hell this guy was more than happy to fight someone with a pulse.

He got in with Lomassiah, but I pretty much agree that he should have been way busier up to now. I am sure he has his reasons.

[crusader]

I recall Russell stating that he deserves to be getting paid more.

[Best Coast]

Leo Santa Cruz accepts the fact that Chris Avalos may not be the opponent that the fans expected for his next return in 2017, but he still believes that Avalos will not be an easy opponent.

He says Avalos stands in the way of his big 2018 plans, which include a rematch with Abner Mares and the third fight with Carl Frampton.

Santa Cruz (31-1-1, 18 KOs) will defend his WBA featherweight title against Avalos (27-5, 20 KOs) on October 14 at the StubHub Center in Carson, California.

Initially Santa Cruz was being position to face Mares, who holds the WBA "regular" title at 126-pounds, but Santa Cruz indicated that he wanted an interim-fight before the rematch takes place in early 2018.

Santa Cruz, who hasn't fought since beating Frampton in January, wanted a decent fight to shake off the rust - but views Avalos as a dangerous opponent.

"I do not underestimate any fighter, for me every fighter is tough, dangerous. In the ring everything can happen, sometimes the fans are hard [on a fighter], but if they were in our place they would understand that there is no easy opponent in the ring... we both have hands, power. Chris Avalos is a puncher, has 20 knockout in 27 fights, he's fought the best, with Oscar Valdez, Carl Frampton, with the Filipino (Mark Magsayo), other fighters, so I take him as a strong fight," Santa Cruz told ESPN Deportes.

"I was training for the fight with [Mares], and afterwards they told me that it was not going to be with Mares. My dad told me that because we both had gone a long time without fighting, Mares since December and me since January - he thought my body would not be prepared, so I wanted a fight beforehand and then with Mares. We wanted a fight to see how we feel and if we win - we go forward with the tough fight with Mares. We know that Mares is tough, he's a great fighter and I want to go in there at one hundred percent.

"I think that I still have time at featherweight. I want to do some more fights. After this fight we want to go fight with the best... Mares, Frampton, Oscar Valdez, Gary Russell, Lee Selby, any of those fighters..... and if we do not reach an agreement [with any of them], then we are going to 130 pounds."

Mares went 15 months out and went straight in with Cuellar who was considered around top 10.

Mares has also been out of the ring a month longer than Santa Cruz and has been very clear that he wanted to fight Leo on this date.

Leo gained so much credibility in the past year now he is just throwing it away.

Pathetic.

I'm a big fan of Leo but am very disappointed that he is wasting time on an unworthy challenger like Avalos.