Leo Santa Cruz : Would Like To See Floyd v Thurman / Hoping For Big Names Himself

By Olly Campbell - 06/02/2015 - Comments

In his latest chat with fighthype.com, WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz has offered up his opinion on the next move for Floyd Mayweather, as well as questioning the levels of excitement the Pacquiao fight brought the fans – also offering up his own promises as to what we can expect to see from him in the near future.

Santa Cruz, involved in his own forgettable mismatch fight on the undercard on May 2nd, said without a hint of irony;

“It (May-Pac) wasn’t what was expected. It wasn’t what all the fans expected. I thought it was a little bit exciting too but (also) not what I expected. I think I would have liked to see more action and stuff like the other fans – but those fights happen.”

Asked who he’d like to see next for Mayweather for his final Showtime fight in September, he said;

“I think Keith Thurman. He’s one of those fighters who is just so strong. I think he’s one of the challengers who could give him a tough fight but still, I don’t see anybody beating Mayweather. He’s gonna retire undefeated and nobody’s gonna beat him.”

With all earlier indications that the Mexican-American man would next fight another below par fighter for his next title defence in Hugo Ruiz, (who was due to fight a final eliminator against Nonito Donaire until Donaire went another direction) – the online backlash appears to have quelled those rumours for the moment and Santa Cruz appears to at last be vaguely talking the talk.

That’s a start I guess!

He said;

“The fights that the fans want – I’m gonna try to give them. The fight against (Abner) Mares – they wanted it and hopefully it’s gonna happen. And big names are gonna come like Frampton, Rigondeaux hopefully and all those big names.”

Through all the ‘maybes’ and ‘hopefully’s’ that litter Santa Cruz’s promises, one hears the classic responses of a (protected) Haymon fighter , a la Deontay Wilder who is in a similarly ridiculed position for his maiden defence against Eric Molina later this month.

However with pressure over a fight with Mares and more importantly the news that Haymon just signed IBF champion Frampton, hopefully – finally, credible fights and defences are on the horizon for Leo Santa Cruz. He has clearly been wasting the great potential he so believes he has to be a great champion for too long.

Twitter @Undilutedpoison