Leo Santa Cruz looks ready to fight Leigh Wood.
The Mexican has requested a license to unify his WBA Super world title in featherweight with WBC champion Rey Vargas. However, the WBA – regular champion Nottingham ace Wood – has ordered Santa Cruz to meet the Brit next or risk being disqualified.
The fight between Santa Cruz, 33, based in California, and ‘Leigh-thal’ was originally brought up by the sanctioning agency on April 6.
However, after it was revealed that Wood’s promotional outfit, Matchroom Boxing, would refuse to pay specifically for the competition, it was confirmed that ‘El Terremoto’ would continue the fight.
Wood won the featherweight regular WBA belt with a Beautiful goal in the final round of China’s Can Xu at Matchroom Boxing HQ 12 months ago and, similarly, defending the belt in hot fashion earlier this year, stop Belfast’s Michael Conlan in the last 12 stanzas at Nottingham Arena.
Santa Cruz won the title in January 2017 by majority decision over Conlan’s Ulsterman colleague Carl Frampton and made three defenses. His last mandatory defense came back in 2018, a unanimous decision win over Abner Mares and he hasn’t dropped to 126lbs since February 2019, with the last three performances. His takes place in a northern division in the featherweight superclass.
In light of the latest developments, it is understood that discussions are underway about a potential showdown between Wood and Josh Warrington of Leeds, the IBF heavyweight champion. But the all-England clash now looks sorted after 33-year-old Wood got a hit in the main section of his belt, having won his last three games by stopping since. when losing to Jazza Dickens by majority decision for WBO Europe. headlines at York Hall in Bethnal Green, London in February 2020.
Details of the Santa Cruz vs Wood fight are expected to be announced sooner rather than later, with an official announcement coming soon.
