Lion hearted Rey says it’s got to be Leo Santa Cruz

Presented with his Green and Gold Belt by World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, at Sport and Chips in Mexico City, new WBC featherweight Champion Rey Vargas says that when the chips are down, it´s got to be a fry up next against Leo Santa Cruz.

Feeling four pounds more comfortable as a champion in a second category, having “Reyned” as WBC super-bantamweight prior to defeating Mark Magsayo for the featherweight belt, Rey said of the Leo “Mane” prospect: “It´s going to be a spectacular, and a fight between two Mexicans which the fans really desire. Leo is a champion fighter with some very solid fights and great successes. My undefeated record also speaks for itself, so it´ll between two great champions… and for Mexican pride. 

“Leo is a strong, courageous fighter who throws a high volume of punches and likes to fight coming forward and is technically sound. He´s quite tall, likes to throw punches from long range and I think it will be a fascinating fight. I feel stronger at featherweight. Every bit of weight is important as even a hundred grams can be a significant factor in a boxing match.  The strategic plan for my extra weight and diet to achieve it was a little different. It worked well and I was at the proper weight one week before the fight.”

Rey´s Trainer, the legendary Nacho Beristain, still slim, spritely and astute aged eighty-three, said that this recent fight had been difficult and exacting, with various trains of thought intervening, but fortunately it had turned out well. He explained that Mark knocking down Rey has reduced the points advantage, but Rey was still one point up and he won the last round to conclude a highly competitive fight. Nacho said there could be a rematch and if this happens it will be an easier win for Rey.

As for Rey fighting Leo Santa Cruz, Nacho says it would obviously be difficult, but Leo is somewhat worn as he´s fought a lot of fights, so Rey has an excellent chance for victory. He says that although Rey is not a heavy puncher, he`s a very accomplished boxer with a difficult style for opponents and he wields an effective liver punch.