According to Dan Rafael of esp.com IBF Bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz will relinquish his title and begin campaigning as a Super Bantamweight
We knew Leo was going to vacate,” said Golden Boy chief executive Richard Schaefer, Santa Cruz’s promoter. “He felt there were no more challenges in that weight class and he felt it was time to move up for new challenges.
“We get together and discuss with our fighters where they are and where they want to be. That’s what we’ve done with Leo and his team — his father and (adviser) Al (Haymon). We felt, jointly, that it made sense for Leo to move up.”
“Leo had a very busy year and it was important for his body to rest after he was so active, so we said let’s target a ring return for sometime in May,” Schaefer said.
“For the first fight at the higher weight class, we want to pick a quality opponent and we see in the next two or so fights that Leo will be fighting for a world title again,” Schaefer said. “He didn’t move up to do tune-up fights.
“We will have to see what is available for him for a big fight, but we believe as a company that, in no particular order, Leo Santa Cruz, (Nonito) Donaire, Abner Mares, (Guillermo) Rigondeaux and Gary Russell Jr. are the best guys in these (junior featherweight and featherweight) weight classes, and we are not afraid to put Leo in with anyone.”
