WBC Super junior featherweight titlist Leo Santa Cruz will face Cristian Mijares in what many are saying could steal the “Toe to Toe” show headlined by Saul “Canelo” Alvarez versus Alfredo Angulo Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
The 25-year-old Santa Cruz comes in as the younger, less inexperienced fighter, but with his exciting style of fighting he feels he will be able to overwhelm Mijares in their bout.
“He (Mijares) drops his hand a lot when he jabs and sometimes he drops both hands, so we’ll take advantage of that,” Santa Cruz stated. “I think he’s not as strong as other fighters (I’ve faced), and he has a similar style to (Cesar) Seda, but he’s not as strong or as fast as him. So I think we’re going to go and stay on top of him, pressure and pressure him and hopefully get him tired so we can stop the fight.”
Despite Mijares (48-7-2, 23 KOs) having the edge in fight experience that there are always chances to capitalize on any fighter if you time it out right.
“He has a lot of fights, he has a lot of experience and as fought different fighters, but if you’re patient and you’re right there and wait for the right moment and do what you always do. If I do what I’ve been training to do with my dad and my brother then everything is going to be good.”
Fighting as a co-feature his past few fights, Santa Cruz (26-0-1, 15 KOs) feels that if he can come out on top Saturday night that he’ll be ready to headline a major card of his own.
“I heard that if I win this fight and (Carl) Frampton wins April 4, there might be a fight against me and him,” Santa Cruz explained. “So I think that would be a main event because he is undefeated, I’m undefeated, we both come forward and that would be a great fight.”
The fight everyone wants to see but probably won’t anytime soon is Santa Cruz against fellow top 122-pounder, Gulliermo Rigondeaux. With the Cold War going on between the top promotional powers, Top Rank and Golden Boy, Santa Cruz could see the bout taking place once Rigondeaux’s contract is expired.
“If it were up to me I would fight him (Rigondeaux) anytime. I heard his contract might be finished soon and if my promoter and my manager want it then I’ll take it,” Santa Cruz said.
Rigondeaux has been calling out Santa Cruz saying he doesn’t want the fight, but Santa Cruz denies that claim and is hush on his end due to the slim possibility of the fight taking place at this time.
“He’s been saying I’m scared of him and I’m not scared of anybody and I never say anything (about Rigondeaux) because he is with Top Rank. If I talk what is the point because I won’t be able to fight him, so I’m just going to wait until he is released and then we’ll start talking.”
