Leo Santa Cruz vs. Leigh Wood - WBA Ordered

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

[Ruthless-RKO]

What the chances LSC vacates?

[milpool]

What the chances LSC vacates?

I’d say it was inevitable.

[gregregegg]

The Leo belt situation has been a shambles. If Leo vacates i hope they just upgrade Wood, not that i normaly like that but it would make Wood vs warrington unification doable and thats a fun fight. (surely WBA would want 3% of that, good cash for a lil mans belt)..

[KiwiRider]

I think there is money in this fight.
Certainly enough for Leo to give it consideration, because we know Woodie will take it.
I'd like to see it.

[Bigdogsnose]

I like it better than the Warrington fight. Proper legacy fight, especially considering where Wood has came from.

[Ruthless-RKO]

WBA Formally Orders Title Consolidation Fight

Leo Santa Cruz has 30 days to decide whether he plans to return to featherweight.

An ordered title consolidation fight nearly a month in the making was finally called by the World Boxing Association (WBA), as Santa Cruz has been summoned to defend his WBA ‘Super’ featherweight belt against England’s Leigh Wood, the reigning WBA ‘World’ titlist at the weight. The sanctioning body vowed last summer to bring closure to the featherweight division, making good on that promise in its latest ruling.

“In another step of the World Boxing Association’s (WBA) world title reduction plan, the WBA Championships Committee ordered the bout between Featherweight Super Champion Leo Santa Cruz and champion Leigh Wood,” Carlos Chavez, chairman of the WBA Championship Committee stated in a formal letter to both parties, a copy of which was obtained by Boxing Scene. “The goal is to have only one champion at 126 pounds and the winner of this bout will keep this distinction.

“Santa Cruz is the super champion of the category and reappeared in February when he defeated Keenan Carbajal in Las Vegas. The Mexican must now face Wood, who comes from defending his championship against Michael Conlan last March 12, in Nottingham.”

The two sides will have until May 6—thirty days from Wednesday’s order—to work out terms for such a fight. A purse bid hearing will be called if they fail to reach a deal during that time.

There is also the chance of Wood (26-2, 12KOs) emerging as the lone recognized WBA featherweight titlist without such a fight taking place.

Santa Cruz (38-2-1, 19KOs) has not fought at featherweight in more than three years, dating back to a February 2019 win over Rafael Rivera. Three straight bouts—spread out over a three-year stretch—have since taken place at junior lightweight, including a ten-round shutout of Keenan Carbajal this past February 5 in Las Vegas.

The win over Carbajal was preceded by assurances from Santa Cruz and Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) that his next fight would take place at featherweight. The word of the four-division titlist from Southern California by way of Mexico was taken as a promise by the WBA in justifying their allowing him to retain the belt he has held since August 2015 but which he has not defended in more than three years.

Wood claimed his version of the belt in an upset 12th round knockout of China’s Can Xu last July in Brentwood, Essex, England. His first title defense serves as a leading candidate for 2022 Fight and Knockout of the Year, doing so in a dramatic 12th round knockout of unbeaten Michael Conlan this past March 12 in his hometown of Nottingham, England.

Wood was dropped in the opening round and trailed on all three scorecards before rallying to floor Conlan late in round eleven before sending him out of the ring in ending their epic fight with just 1:25 to go in the twelfth and final round. Talks have since swirled of a potential unification bout with countryman two-time IBF featherweight titlist Josh Warrington (31-1-1, 8KOs), who regained his crown in a seventh-round stoppage of Kiko Martinez on March 26 in his Leeds hometown.

The domestic rivalry would serve as a massive event in England, though cannot serve as a true unification bout while Wood remains a secondary WBA titlist. The path to upgrading his title status takes a significant step forward, as the next 30 days will determine whether Santa Cruz will keep his word and proceed with the fight, or if Wood can enjoy full title status. Either scenario provides the streaking Brit with a blockbuster fight within reach.

[Dioufy]

Jesus. Wood done it the hard way.
This will be the 3rd fight in a row he would be odds-against.
Imo I might be a dinosaur but I don’t consider Wood a world champion yet.
He would need to fight Cruz or fight for the vacant belt.
Lara v Wood for that belt if Leo moves up.

[JxhDel.]

Some time for Leo to finally defend his WBA featherweight tile... and not too sure he is going to have an easy time with Leigh crushing every odd.

[KiwiRider]

Jesus. Wood done it the hard way.
This will be the 3rd fight in a row he would be odds-against.
Imo I might be a dinosaur but I don’t consider Wood a world champion yet.
He would need to fight Cruz or fight for the vacant belt.
Lara v Wood for that belt if Leo moves up.

I don't consider him a world champion yet either. I do consider him most deserving of a chance, in a time when there are so many who aren't.
The last two fights were of the calibre guys used to compete in before a world title shot. Now they have 18-20 knockovers and then a shot at a belt. So yeah, I don't consider him to be a world champ, but I do consider him to be the #1 contender for any of the belts, no matter his respective rankings.

[skanksta]

What the chances LSC vacates?

I’d say it was inevitable.

What's LSC got lined up that's so much better than a winnable stadium (PPV ?) fight in Nottingham ?

Anyone who went to Wood vs Conlan will surely go again, plus a chance to see the great LSC (and surely for the last time) for the UK hardcore.
It's a good fight that will sell, what's Leo got that makes a swerve "inevitable". ?

Not trolling, just askin'

[Crease]

I'm pretty sure that I heard in an interview that Santa Cruz's manager had been in contact with the WBA and told them that he plans to continue campaigning at Super Featherweight. And that was prior to Wood/Conlan.

If Leo vacates i hope they just upgrade Wood, not that i normaly like that but it would make Wood vs warrington unification doable and thats a fun fight.

I agree with this - Wood probably deserves to be upgraded seeing as the the Super Champ refuses to fight him. If they don't want to do that, I believe the WBA no 1 Contender is currently Thomas Patrick Ward. Maybe upgrade him if he wants that defense?

Either way, I do applaud the WBA for making the effort to tidy up their multiple Champions situation - and the sooner they clean it up the better for the transparency of the sport.

[Crease]

What's LSC got lined up that's so much better than a winnable stadium (PPV ?) fight in Nottingham ?

A lucrative fight against the winner of Stevenson/Valdez I would say, just off the top of my head. Or a very winnable fight against Jameel Herring... Or his longtime rival, Gary Russell Jr - i've heard that he's meant to be having trouble making Featherweight.
Santa Cruz is high profile and he's got options....

[maverick23]

What's LSC got lined up that's so much better than a winnable stadium (PPV ?) fight in Nottingham ?

A lucrative fight against the winner of Stevenson/Valdez I would say, just off the top of my head. Or a very winnable fight against Jameel Herring... Or his longtime rival, Gary Russell Jr - i've heard that he's meant to be having trouble making Featherweight.
Santa Cruz is high profile and he's got options....

Stevenson, Valdez and Herring are all with Top Rank though so will be tricky to make those fights. Russell Jr could happen but after Russell losing his last fight I’m not sure that him against LSC is a really big fight now particularly if it’s not for a title at 130.

[skanksta]

Thanks, I'm sure he does have lots of options - and fair play he's earned them - but is Herring really a bigger winnable money fight than Wood ? And the Val/Shak winner will likely be his last fight won't it ?

Come to the UK Leo !

[Dioufy]

I will never like a fighter being given a belt; you have to win it in the ring.
It’s harsh on Wood after the last 2 fights but it is what it is.
If Wood’s next fight isn’t for the real belt… vacant or against Santa Cruz… then that’s another nail in boxing’s coffin imo.
His current belt might as well be made out of Pringles for me.
Quality operator though who does deserve to be a world champion whose been fucked by the WBA.
Least he’s not alone in that.

[milpool]

What the chances LSC vacates?

I’d say it was inevitable.

What's LSC got lined up that's so much better than a winnable stadium (PPV ?) fight in Nottingham ?

Anyone who went to Wood vs Conlan will surely go again, plus a chance to see the great LSC (and surely for the last time) for the UK hardcore.
It's a good fight that will sell, what's Leo got that makes a swerve "inevitable". ?

Not trolling, just askin'

He hasn’t, but I just don’t think he wants to stay at Featherweight. He might surprise me and I hope for Leigh Wood’s sake he does come to the UK and fight him. I just don’t see it though.

[margaret thatcher]

what'ss with all this talk lately of pampered high paid americans coming over as opponents to the uk. dont see it at all , especially for the pbc guys, since pbc is notoriously in house

if leo's people want to fight wood id bet it would happen in the us, if they dont he'll vacate

[Ruthless-RKO]

what'ss with all this talk lately of pampered high paid americans coming over as opponents to the uk. dont see it at all , especially for the pbc guys, since pbc is notoriously in house

if leo's people want to fight wood id bet it would happen in the us, if they dont he'll vacate

Yeh, no doubt. US or nothing.

LSC didn't even want to come to the UK for Frampton..

[Blueprint]

What is the split?

[tigermoth87]

LSC schools him. Wood lost to Jazza Dickens who is shit.

[maverick23]

LSC schools him. Wood lost to Jazza Dickens who is shit.

So a fighter who’s won the British title and had some other good wins is shit?

[tigermoth87]

He's hardly on LSC level. LSC would smoke him in a handful of rounds.

[maverick23]

He's hardly on LSC level. LSC would smoke him in a handful of rounds.

So because he’s not on LSC’s level he’s shit?