Californian based Mexican Leodegario Santa Cruz 13-0-1(5) is looking to gatecrash the world scene at Super Bantamweight in the coming months. It’s been a slow start to the year for the 21 year old who returned from a 6 month hiatus with an impressive third round stoppage over Jose Angel Cota. The man nicknamed “Teremoto” meaning Earthquake hopes to continue his path to the top when he gets back into action in quick time facing hard hitting southpaw Andre Wilson 11-4-1(9) who is sure to pose new questions on 17 July in Pala, Ca.
Hello Leo, welcome to 15rounds.com
Anson Wainwright – Firstly congratulation’s on an impressive win recently when you stopped Jose Angel Cota in three. What can you tell us about that fight? Did you feel you had any ring rust?
Leo Santa Cruz – Yeah I felt good. I trained hard for it. I hit him in the second with a left hook, i dropped him and then in the third I got him with a straight right he kinda wobbled and the referee stepped in and stopped it.
Anson Wainwright – You’ve been off for 6 months what kept you out of the ring for that amount of time?
Leo Santa Cruz – It was because my manager & promoter were trying to get me a couple of fights but they got cancelled. I was going to be busy but the fights kept falling out.
Anson Wainwright – You came in very light at 116 against Cota, but have been up at around 120 was there any reason you fought that low?
Leo Santa Cruz – Right now I’m trying to fight at a higher weight but I can’t gain more weight. My goal is to make 130. But right now I’ll fight at 122, fight there for like a few years then move on. I walk around at 126/127.
Anson Wainwright – What weight are you looking to settle down at?
Leo Santa Cruz – I haven’t thought about that really. Wherever I feel natural. At the moment around 120/122 i feel good.
Anson Wainwright – Who is part of Team Santa Cruz? Who’s your trainer, manager & promoter? Also what gym do you train at?
Leo Santa Cruz – My manager is Cameron Dunkin, my trainer is my father Jose Santa Cruz & my promoter is Chet Koerner’s TKO. I first trained at Eddie Heredia’s but now I’m at Maywood.
Anson Wainwright – Southern California is a hot bed for Boxing with many top fighters, who have you sparred with?
Leo Santa Cruz – I sparred with Giovani Segura, Jose Navarro & Ronnie Rios and another guy Joseph Diaz right now he’s amateur. He’s training for the USA Championships in July. I’ve sparred with a lot of good fighters. I feel good against them, people tell me I look good too.
Anson Wainwright – What is a typical day’s training for you?
Leo Santa Cruz – I train Monday to Saturday. I go to the gym at 10 I go at 1.30 i spar and mitts stuff like that and get home around 2. If it’s a light session 12.30-1.
Anson Wainwright – Can you tell us about your amateur career? What titles did you win and what was your final record?
Leo Santa Cruz – I did 70 something fights, I only lost 8. Mostly I fought at tournaments. I lost in the finals of the USA’s against Gary Russell the guy who went to the last Olympics.
Anson Wainwright – Your from a family with your older brother Jose Armando also fighting and having a big fight with Zab Judah coming up? Are any other brother’s or cousins boxers?
Leo Santa Cruz – My oldest brother used to box and my other brother Robert too. But one got sick and the other quit.
I think my brother can beat him. All he has to do is watch out for the first few rounds. My brother will pressure and pressure him. He has to watch Judah early he’s strong then.
Anson Wainwright – What can you tell us about your life from when you were growing up and how it took you into Boxing?
Leo Santa Cruz – When I was about 8 I went to the gym to watch my brother fight and one day my dad told me you want to get in the ring and spar I said yeah and then I fought a guy who had fought a lot. I hit him and beat him. People said I should take it up. From there I started liking it. I went to school and played with my friends then I went home and trained.
Anson Wainwright – What are your interests away from Boxing? What do you like to do, do you have any hobbies?
Leo Santa Cruz – I like playing Soccer & Bowling. When I’m not Boxing I go and play with my brother Jose, he likes Bowling too. I was hoping Mexico would win (In the World Cup) but they lost and USA too. I think Germany or probably Brazil, one of those two will win it.
Anson Wainwright – How far do you consider yourself from fighting the top guys in your weight class?
Leo Santa Cruz – Right now I still need more work. When I get to 20 fights maybe even 18/19 I will start fighting the top guys. I’ve sparred with the top guys & looked good with them.
Anson Wainwright – Who was your favourite fighter growing up?
Leo Santa Cruz – Chavez haha I liked the pressure he brought and the bodypunching and he was tough. I saw him at the gym with his son but didn’t get chance to meet him.
Anson Wainwright – Finally do you have anything to say to the Boxing public?
Leo Santa Cruz – I’m hoping people will take notice of my fights and show them there is more than one Santa Cruz in Boxing not just my brother. We’ll try to do our best for them.
Thanks for your time Leo.
Anson Wainwright
15rounds.com
