Leo Santa Cruz said he was told by his handlers that they’re targeting May for his next fight. And although nothing has been settled, it’s clear who he wants to take on: Gervonta Davis.
“That’s what I asked for,” Santa Cruz said on a FightHubTV video. “I said I want to fight Gervonta Davis. They said, yeah. Now it’s just a matter of talking to their team to see if they want it, to see if they could make it.
“… I think, more than likely, they’ll take it. Gervonta has said he wants to fight me. Leonard Ellerbe (of Mayweather Promotions, which handles Davis) wants that fight too. It’s just a matter of when and at what weight.”
One reason Santa Cruz wants the fight, he said, is to prove wrong fans who doubt his courage.
“People are saying I’m scared to fight champions, I’m scared to fight big names. I want to prove that I’m not scared,” he said. “… Gervonta Davis. He’s the most dangerous fighter. They say I’m scared of Gary Russell. I’m not scared of Gary Russell. The fight just hasn’t been able to be made.
“I’ve been asking for him. I’ve been asking for the big names. Oscar Valdez, Gary Russell, the third fight against [Carl] Frampton. Josh Warrington. All the big names.”
Santa Cruz believes a fight with Davis would take place at 130 pounds, at which Santa Cruz outpointed Miguel Flores to win a vacant title in November. He’d also be willing to face Davis at 135.
Whatever the weight, Santa Cruz expects a tough fight against Davis.
“He’s really skillful,” he said. “He looks for one-punch knockouts. We have to be smart. We’ll try to find sparring partners who have his style, really skillful, fast, with power. We’ll work on those things to avoid those big punches.
“He’s never had a fighter being on top of him, pressuring him, throwing a lot of punches. I think that might throw him off and be a big influence in the fight.”
Santa Cruz also could use his length against Davis.
“My dad says to use our distance,” he said. “We’re taller than him, we have a longer reach than Gervonta Davis. So I think that’s what we’re going to do, try to use our distance, keep on the outside, not get caught with big punches.
“We’ll try a little of both, try to pressure him, try to stay on top of him, throw punches punches. But if that’s not working, we’ll use our distance. Whatever works, whatever makes the fight easier, that’s what we’re going to do.”
One possible snag: Davis was recently arrested for allegedly assaulting the mother of his child. Is Santa Cruz worried that Davis’ legal problems will ruin his plans?
“Yeah, I am,” he said. “He has to go to court. They might not let him fight. He has to go through all this stuff first. … If the fight falls through, there are other big names. Gary Russell is one. That’d be a great fight. Jo Jo Diaz has been calling me out. There’s other big fights that can be made.
“But I want the Gervonta [Davis] fight first.”