Leo Santa Cruz told ESPN Deportes that he’s considering retirement.
The former four-division titleholder was on the wrong end of a brutal one-punch knockout – one that rendered him temporarily unconscious — against Gervonta Davis on Saturday night at the Alamodome in San Antonio.
He said he’ll discuss his future with those closest to him, including his father-trainer, and then make a decision.
“Thank God we are fine, we are healthy,” he said. “We did not come out with victory, but we thank all the fans for their support, their good vibes, with all our hearts. He caught me, we went down, but thank God we are here.”
He went on: “The truth is I want to spend time with the family, spend time with them, rest. And the truth is I am going to talk with my team, with my father, to see what plans they have or what they want me to do, to see if I continue boxing or we retire.
“Let’s see what happens. Let’s talk to my dad and see if we come back. Let’s see, as my mind clears, let’s see what comes next.”
Davis and Santa Cruz engaged in a 130-pound firefight for much of five-plus rounds before the big blow came in Round 6.
Santa Cruz, the naturally smaller man, said he wasn’t overwhelmed by Davis’ strength until his lights went out as a result of a perfect left uppercut. However, he also said that he felt “a little heavy.” He fought at 126 only two fights earlier.
“At the weight we really did feel a little heavy, but I’m honest … he wasn’t feeling my punch,” Santa Cruz said. “He threw the uppercut on me, and I was blocking it well. I didn’t feel the punch, and that’s why I stayed there [in the pocket].
“But he threw that particular uppercut with all his force. He threw it and he hit me good. I was not feeling as strong as they said. But he hit me with a good punch. I don’t take anything from him. He’s a great fighter and he caught me.
“People were worried about how I went down. Me too. Right now I looked at how I fell, knocked out, I don’t remember when he hit me, I just fell, I didn’t feel anything. It was my mistake. … Three right hands at the same time because he was studying it, and he said he was going to counter me. I threw it and he countered me and caught me.”
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