By Miguel Maravilla

WBA featherweight world champion and WBC diamond featherweight champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (33-1-1, 18 KOs) has been putting in work at the gym in recent days as he looks back to get in the ring soon. We caught up with the champ at his gym the S.C.M.T. Boxing Club in Montebello, California where he talked about his upcoming plans.

“Lately I have been staying active. We had a three-month layoff which is the longest layoff I ever had. I felt lazy the first few days back but I am back in the gym now,” Santa Cruz told Fightnews.com®. “I am looking to get back in the ring. My plans are to fight the big names and right now there are big names out there. So we are training for now and ready for what comes next.”

Santa Cruz is coming off a majority decision win over Carl Frampton (23-1, 14 KOs) early this year in a rematch, avenging his only loss.

“It what was a good fight and I was so happy winning that fight. It was like winning my first title. He gave me my only loss and took my title. The only thing I wanted was that fight and I knew if I would fight him that I would beat him,” Santa Cruz said.

“We are not finished. I think there will be a third fight to settle everything since we are 1-1 against each other. It won’t happen anytime soon but it will happen down the line maybe next year because people want it and we gave good fights.”

As for what is next for the 28-year-old. There have been rumors about a potential rematch with Abner Mares (30-2-1, 15 KOs) to take place September 9th in Southern California, however, the champ clarified the situation with us.

“They just told me that the WBA has ordered a mandatory for a rematch with Mares and I have no problem with it,” he said. “I do want to fight Mares.”

Other possibilities also exist.

“I was also told about fighting on the Mayweather-McGregor card but nothing yet,” Santa Cruz said.

For the time being, nothing is official. More information coming shortly.

“I am getting ready to fight pretty soon. I was told probably at the end of summer or September. They haven’t told me who, but whoever it is I am ready,” Santa Cruz concluded.