Santa Cruz: I should fight from range, but I am going to War

A lot has been made of the physical advantages Leo Santa Cruz has over Carl Frampton ahead of their WBA World featherweight title set for the city of New York tonight.

The Mexican has a seven inch superior reach and is two inches taller than the challenger, but it seems he doesn’t plan to use those advantages tonight at the Barclays Centre. The three-weight world champion has the ideal platform from which box from range, but that isn’t in his make up.

The champion is ready to go to war against a fighter he believes will come into the ring as big as a lightweight.

“I could just use the jab and keep him on the outside instead of coming in if I wanted, but you know I love to please the fans. I like to give them a war,” he told BoxingScene after the weigh-in yesterday. 

Santa Cruz certainly has height and reach advantages, but he believes ‘The Jackal’ will be bigger in terms of weight tonight.

“Frampton was saying he couldn’t make 122lbs, he continued, “he’ll probably be a little bigger than me. He is a little bit stockier and he says he feels stronger at 126lbs. That is what I want. I don’t want him to say he felt weak at 126, that he didn’t feel good. He is saying he feels stronger and everything,” he added.

“I think on fight night I will be 131, 132. Frampton will probably be around 135 because he puts on weight really fast. Me I don’t really put on weight that fast, but I feel good at 126, I feel strong and Frampton says he does too. It’s going to be an equal fight, a very good fight and may the best man win.”