Santa Cruz targets Magsayo after Carbajal fight


Should Leo Santa Cruz emerge as the winner in his Las Vegas showdown against Keenan Carbajal on Feb. 5, the Mexican boxer already has a name in mind for his next bout.

Mark Magsayo and Leo Santa Cruz (Showtime / WBA)

Santa Cruz expressed desire to square off with reigning WBC featherweight champion and undefeated Filipino boxer Mark Magsayo anytime soon.

"If everything goes good on Saturday night, I think it was Magsayo [of the Philippines," said Santa Cruz, who has a 37-2 record on top of 19 KOs.

"I wanted to fight Gary Russell, the fighter never happened. But I think Magsayo is a good fighter, strong fighter and I think a fight against him would be really great."

But the Mexican star maintained his focus on what's ahead against Carbajal, the American orthodox boxer who also has two losses with 23 wins and 15 KOs.

Magsayo, on the other hand, is slated for his first title defense as the WBC featherweight champion against another Mexican in Rey Vargas, a former WBC super bantamweight titlist.

Final date and venue, however, have yet to be announced.

After acknowledging the mandatory title defense, Magsayo also earlier expressed his desire to face the likes of Santa Cruz and Luis Nery, among others.

The 25-year-old Tagbilaran, Bohol native boxer earned the WBC featherweight belt after scoring a convincing majority decision win over Russell last Jan. 22 in New Jersey.

READ: Rematch with Russell? Magsayo 'willing to fight anybody'