Ward awaits WBA move as Santa Cruz requests Vargas fight

Number one contender Thomas Patrick Ward will be keeping a close eye on the WBA world title situation with reports claiming Leigh Wood may miss out on a clash with Leo Santa Cruz.

The WBA had ordered their ‘Super’ featherweight title holder, Santa Cruz, to face the ‘regular’ champion Wood.

But it is now claimed that Santa Cruz may try and pursue a featherweight unification clash with fellow Mexican Rey Vargas, who picked up the WBC belt at the weekend.

Wood’s promoter Eddie Hearn told the DAZN Boxing Show he expects Santa Cruz to “request” the WBA allow him to have a unification fight with Vargas, instead of facing Wood.

Should the WBA grant any such request, it would leave Wood looking for an opponent and with Ward itching for his long overdue shot at a world title, he could put himself in the frame.

The unbeaten Ward keeps active this weekend, when he headlines a Phil Jeffries promotion at the Stadium of Light in Sunderland, facing Nasoro Madimba.

Ward, who has been the No1 contender at 126lbs with the WBA since March, said it was “outrageous” that Santa Cruz had not defended his ‘Super’ title since 2019.

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