Léodegario Santa Cruz (born 10 August 1988 in Huetamo, Michoacán), nicknamed ‘El Terremoto’, is a Mexican professional boxer. Per Wikipedia, he is a four-weight world champion, having held the IBF bantamweight title from 2012 to 2013, the WBC super bantamweight title from 2013 to 2015, the WBA (Super) featherweight title twice between 2015 and 2022, and the WBA (Super) super featherweight title from 2019 to 2020.
Santa Cruz, trained by his father Jose Santa Cruz, made his pro debut on 13 October 2006 and won his first world title against Vusi Malinga in June 2012. He beat Abner Mares for the WBA (Super) featherweight title in 2015, lost it to Carl Frampton in 2016 and regained it in their 2017 rematch; the fetched record table runs through a February 5, 2022 win over Keenan Carbajal.
BoxRec-style profile
- Birth name: Léodegario Santa Cruz
- Born: August 10, 1988 — Huetamo, Michoacán, Mexico
- Nationality: Mexican
- Height: 5 ft 7½ in (171 cm)
- Reach: 69 in (175 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Pro debut: 13 Oct 2006 (Win by KO vs Pedro Silva)
- Last bout: 5 Feb 2022 (Win by UD vs Keenan Carbajal)
- Total rounds boxed: 276 (summed from the bout table below)
- Divisions: Bantamweight, Super bantamweight, Featherweight, Super featherweight, Lightweight
- KO percentage: 50.0% (19 KO wins in 38 wins)
- Titles held (major, with reign dates): IBF bantamweight title June 2, 2012 – February 12, 2013 (won the vacant title from Vusi Malinga; three defenses, then vacated to move up, per the fetched article); WBC super bantamweight title August 24, 2013 – 2015 (won from Victor Terrazas per the bout table); WBA (Super) featherweight title twice between August 29, 2015 and 2022 (won the vacant title from Abner Mares; lost to Carl Frampton on July 30, 2016 and regained it in the January 28, 2017 rematch, per the fetched article and bout table); WBA (Super) super featherweight title 2019–2020 (per the fetched lead) — reign summary per Wikipedia lead, article and bout table
- Trainer: Jose Santa Cruz (his father and life-long trainer, per the fetched article; Jose Santa Cruz died on June 3, 2025)
- Manager: Al Haymon (Santa Cruz referred to Haymon as his manager in the fetched article)
- Born: August 10, 1988 — Huetamo, Michoacán, Mexico
- Nationality: Mexican
- Height: 5 ft 7½ in (171 cm)
- Reach: 69 in (175 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Bantamweight, Super bantamweight, Featherweight, Super featherweight, Lightweight
Record at a glance
- Total bouts: 41
- Wins: 38
- Wins by KO: 19
- Losses: 2
- Losses by KO: 1
- Draws: 1
- No contests: 0
- Born: August 10, 1988 — Huetamo, Michoacán, Mexico
- Nationality: Mexican
- Height: 5 ft 7½ in (171 cm)
- Reach: 69 in (175 cm)
- Stance: Orthodox
- Divisions: Bantamweight, Super bantamweight, Featherweight, Super featherweight, Lightweight
Fight-by-fight record
| No. | Date | Opponent | Result | Method | Round/Time | Venue / Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 Oct 2006 | Pedro Silva | Win | KO | 2 (4), 1:56 | Palo Duro Creek Golf Course, Nogales, Arizona, U.S. |
| 2 | 5 Jan 2007 | Rodrigo Hernandez | Draw | MD | 4 | Dickerson’s Event Center, Las Cruces, New Mexico, U.S. |
| 3 | 5 Oct 2007 | Joseph Rios | Win | UD | 4 | Cliff Castle Casino Hotel, Camp Verde, Arizona, U.S. |
| 4 | 23 Nov 2007 | Elton Dharry | Win | UD | 4 | Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, U.S. |
| 5 | 4 Jan 2008 | Jose Pacheco | Win | KO | 2 (4), 1:06 | Alameda Swap Meet, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| 6 | 28 Mar 2008 | Daniel Quevedo | Win | UD | 4 | Industry Hills Expo Center, City of Industry, California, U.S. |
| 7 | 25 Jul 2008 | Gino Escamilla | Win | UD | 6 | The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 8 | 19 Sep 2008 | Adrian Aleman | Win | UD | 4 | Star of the Desert Arena, Primm, Nevada, U.S. |
| 9 | 7 Mar 2009 | Jose Garcia Bernal | Win | UD | 6 | Valencia Ballroom, York, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
| 10 | 10 Jul 2009 | Jonathan Velardez | Win | UD | 6 | Events Center, Reno, Nevada, U.S. |
| 11 | 22 Aug 2009 | Robert DaLuz | Win | UD | 6 | Casino Resort and Spa, Pala, California, U.S. |
| 12 | 3 Nov 2009 | Julio Valadez | Win | KO | 1 (6), 1:22 | Casino, Commerce, California, U.S. |
| 13 | 17 Dec 2009 | Juan Jose Beltran | Win | TKO | 3 (8), 2:17 | Casino, Commerce, California, U.S. |
| 14 | 3 Jun 2010 | Jose Angel Cota | Win | TKO | 3 (8), 1:35 | Casino, Commerce, California, U.S. |
| 15 | 21 Oct 2010 | James Owens | Win | TKO | 1 (6), 1:14 | Martin’s Valley Mansion, Cockeysville, Maryland, U.S. |
| 16 | 26 Mar 2011 | Stephane Jamoye | Win | KO | 6 (10) | Instituto de la Juventud, Xalapa, Mexico — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBC Youth interim bantamweight title |
| 17 | 3 Jun 2011 | Jose Lopez | Win | KO | 5 (8), 2:35 | Fantasy Springs Resort Casino, Indio, California, U.S. |
| 18 | 30 Jul 2011 | Everth Briceno | Win | TKO | 11 (12), 1:58 | International Center, Mazatlán, Mexico — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC Youth interim bantamweight title |
| 19 | 26 Nov 2011 | Jorge Romero | Win | TKO | 3 (8), 1:10 | Plaza de Toros, Mexico City, Mexico |
| 20 | 21 Jan 2012 | Alejandro Hernández | Win | RTD | 4 (10), 0:10 | Bodega Del Boxeo, Ensenada, Mexico |
| 21 | 2 Jun 2012 | Vusi Malinga | Win | UD | 12 | Home Depot Center, Carson, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant IBF bantamweight title |
| 22 | 15 Sep 2012 | Eric Morel | Win | RTD | 5 (12), 3:00 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF bantamweight title |
| 23 | 10 Nov 2012 | Victor Zaleta | Win | TKO | 9 (12), 1:42 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF bantamweight title |
| 24 | 15 Dec 2012 | Alberto Guevara | Win | UD | 12 | Memorial Sports Arena, Los Angeles, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained IBF bantamweight title |
| 25 | 4 May 2013 | Alexander Muñoz | Win | TKO | 5 (10), 1:56 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant USBA super bantamweight title |
| 26 | 24 Aug 2013 | Victor Terrazas | Win | TKO | 3 (12), 2:09 | StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBC super bantamweight title |
| 27 | 14 Dec 2013 | César Seda | Win | UD | 12 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 28 | 8 Mar 2014 | Cristian Mijares | Win | UD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 29 | 13 Sep 2014 | Manuel Roman | Win | KO | 2 (12), 0:55 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 30 | 17 Jan 2015 | Jesus Ruiz | Win | TKO | 8 (12), 0:29 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBC super bantamweight title |
| 31 | 2 May 2015 | Jose Cayetano | Win | UD | 10 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
| 32 | 29 Aug 2015 | Abner Mares | Win | MD | 12 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBA (Super) featherweight title |
| 33 | 27 Feb 2016 | Kiko Martínez | Win | TKO | 5 (12), 2:09 | Honda Center, Anaheim, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Super) featherweight title |
| 34 | 30 Jul 2016 | Carl Frampton | Loss | MD | 12 | Barclays Center, New York City, New York, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Super) featherweight title |
| 35 | 28 Jan 2017 | Carl Frampton | Win | MD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won WBA (Super) featherweight title |
| 36 | 14 Oct 2017 | Chris Avalos | Win | KO | 8 (12), 1:34 | StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Super) featherweight title |
| 37 | 9 Jun 2018 | Abner Mares | Win | UD | 12 | Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Super) featherweight title |
| 38 | 16 Feb 2019 | Rafael Rivera | Win | UD | 12 | Microsoft Theater, Los Angeles, California, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Retained WBA (Super) featherweight title |
| 39 | 23 Nov 2019 | Miguel Flores | Win | UD | 12 | MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Won vacant WBA (Super) super featherweight title |
| 40 | 31 Oct 2020 | Gervonta Davis | Loss | KO | 6 (12), 2:40 | Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, U.S. — ★ Title fight — Lost WBA (Super) super featherweight title; For WBA (Regular) lightweight title |
| 41 | 5 Feb 2022 | Keenan Carbajal | Win | UD | 10 | Michelob Ultra Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S. |
Titles & notes
Major title reigns (start–end): IBF bantamweight title June 2, 2012 – February 12, 2013 (won the vacant title from Vusi Malinga; three defenses, then vacated to move up, per the fetched article); WBC super bantamweight title August 24, 2013 – 2015 (won from Victor Terrazas per the bout table); WBA (Super) featherweight title twice between August 29, 2015 and 2022 (won the vacant title from Abner Mares; lost to Carl Frampton on July 30, 2016 and regained it in the January 28, 2017 rematch, per the fetched article and bout table); WBA (Super) super featherweight title 2019–2020 (per the fetched lead) — reign summary per Wikipedia lead, article and bout table
- 26 Mar 2011 vs Stephane Jamoye: Won vacant WBC Youth interim bantamweight title
- 30 Jul 2011 vs Everth Briceno: Retained WBC Youth interim bantamweight title
- 2 Jun 2012 vs Vusi Malinga: Won vacant IBF bantamweight title
- 15 Sep 2012 vs Eric Morel: Retained IBF bantamweight title
- 10 Nov 2012 vs Victor Zaleta: Retained IBF bantamweight title
- 15 Dec 2012 vs Alberto Guevara: Retained IBF bantamweight title
- 4 May 2013 vs Alexander Muñoz: Won vacant USBA super bantamweight title
- 24 Aug 2013 vs Victor Terrazas: Won WBC super bantamweight title
- 14 Dec 2013 vs César Seda: Retained WBC super bantamweight title
- 8 Mar 2014 vs Cristian Mijares: Retained WBC super bantamweight title
- 13 Sep 2014 vs Manuel Roman: Retained WBC super bantamweight title
- 17 Jan 2015 vs Jesus Ruiz: Retained WBC super bantamweight title
- 29 Aug 2015 vs Abner Mares: Won vacant WBA (Super) featherweight title
- 27 Feb 2016 vs Kiko Martínez: Retained WBA (Super) featherweight title
- 30 Jul 2016 vs Carl Frampton: Lost WBA (Super) featherweight title
- 28 Jan 2017 vs Carl Frampton: Won WBA (Super) featherweight title
- 14 Oct 2017 vs Chris Avalos: Retained WBA (Super) featherweight title
- 9 Jun 2018 vs Abner Mares: Retained WBA (Super) featherweight title
- 16 Feb 2019 vs Rafael Rivera: Retained WBA (Super) featherweight title
- 23 Nov 2019 vs Miguel Flores: Won vacant WBA (Super) super featherweight title
- 31 Oct 2020 vs Gervonta Davis: Lost WBA (Super) super featherweight title; For WBA (Regular) lightweight title
Record source: Wikipedia professional boxing record table (cross-checked against the bout list), retrieved 2026-10-30.
