The Agony of Champ Leo Santa Cruz
BoxingGlove Notes
Distinio Lois, Jr.
Leo Santa Cruz, undefeated W.B.A. 126 Pound Champion arrived in New York City excited about defending his crown at the Barclays Center and seeing the big apple for the first time.
Sadly, he also has been carrying a heavy emotional burden since he was informed that his dad-Jose-had contracted spinal cord Cancer. Immediately he decided to cancel his mega championship fight with Carl “The Jackal” Frampton former W.B.A. Super Bantamweight Champ.
Upon, advise from his father who is also his Trainer, not to postpone the fight, he decided to continue his preparation for this mega fight that will take place, Saturday, July 30th 2016.
Upon Leo Santa Cruz’ arrival in New York City and even when the Consul General of Mexico in New York, Honorable Diego Gomez Pickering, held a formal welcome reception for him and his family,in the Mexican Consulate , you could still read the great concern in Santa Cruz’ face that he had for his father’s illness.
Jose Santa Cruz told him very sternly, “Son this is your career, this is what you have been fighting for all of your life, and as your father and also trainer I will not let any illness stop you from fulfilling your dreams. I promise you that I will be in your corner the night you face Carl Frampton at the Barclays Center.”
Champ Santa Cruz 32-0-1, 18 knockouts, told me that, that speech was the only motivating force to encourage him to continue to train and prepare hard for perhaps the biggest fight of his career. During his training sessions at the Church Street Gym in Manhattan I saw a Santa Cruz that surprisingly didn’t display a care in the world, but a hard determination to win.
On the other hand his opponent, Carl “The Jackal” Frampton, 22-0, 14 knockouts, from Belfast, Northern Ireland, exhibited an excited relief that finally he was going to fight for a world title and in the United States.
“I am very excited and actually anxious to fight before American fans especially the New York City Irish to prove to them that I am indeed worthy of this title fight”, stated Frampton.
Frampton further stated that, “moving up in weight is what I had to do because I was having stamina troubles at the lower weight so moving up I feel very strong and my punching power has improved.”
Frampton a very stocky 5’5”muscular ring warrior with only a 62” reach stated that he was ready for the taller Santa Cruz who is 5’7 ½” tall with a 69” reach because all of his life even in the amateurs he has had to fight taller opponents and he was able to beat them. Fighting the taller Santa Cruz would be no problem.
Frampton then comically stated, “If I fought a guy my size, I’ll probably lose to him.”
A very confident Frampton further stated that his training camp was very intense going over the strategy they planned to use to defeat Santa Cruz and with the help of Hall of Famer and former world champ Barry McGuigan he felt he would be victorious.
In this championship fight it is very difficult to select a winner due to the fact that these 2 elite ring warriors are so evenly matched despite the height and reach difference.
They both have scored knockouts in double figures, and in previous fights with opponents both have displayed excellent ring generalship adjusting to whatever their opponents would bring to the ring.
We are looking at 2 men who are fighting in New York for the first time who have not displayed stage fright and are hungry to win and go on to other challenges in the featherweight division that is loaded with other elite top contenders and champions such as Vasyl Lomachenko, Gary Russell, Jr., Abner Mares, Jhonny Gonzalez, Guillermo Rigondeaux, Lee Selby.
“We are well aware that Santa Cruz is the fan and the betting favorite, but this underdog and unknown Frampton will beat him. He is too strong, hungry for recognition and wants to make history as the first Irishman to win 2 world titles in 2 weight divisions”, stated a confident Barry McGuigan.
These were strong declarations by a person who should know and who also made boxing history over 30 years ago by winning 2 world boxing crowns.
My Black Star News readers don’t miss this one because it could be a ‘barn burner’ for twelve rounds or less.
