The rumored fight between Guillermo Rigondeaux and Leo Santa Cruz has been killed, according to ESPN.com. Oscar De La Hoya’s Golden Boy Promotions then sold off Santa Cruz’s contract to Al Haymon.
De La Hoya had been publicly trying to put Rigondeaux in with Santa Cruz in a highly anticipated fight between two of the top three 122 lb fighters in the world. However, Team Santa Cruz (read: Haymon) didn’t want it to happen. So Golden Boy is parting ways with the fighter. Rigondeaux is promoted by Top Rank, whom Haymon does not do business with.
That adds to the collection of former Golden Boy fighters now in the Al Haymon stable, and also adds more depth to his Premier Boxing Champions series. Whether Haymon simply wanted to wrest control of Santa Cruz away from De La Hoya, he wanted to avoid having Santa Cruz soundly out-boxed by Rigondeaux, or he has plans for Santa Cruz on Premier boxing Champions and luring someone the likes of Carl Frampton over stateside instead remains to be seen.
What is known is that Leo Santa Cruz has been the most serially coddled fighter at the top levels of the sport. No other fighter has had more major television fights against lesser opponents in such quick succession than Santa Cruz. We’re not blaming the fighter here, but something needs to change with his career track at this point.
We’ll keep you posted with any further opponents regarding the next fights for Rigondeaux and Santa Cruz.
