Russell to fight in December. The video was up and running a couple of weeks ago.

"Growing up, my dad always showed me videos of him, and that’s where I kind of got my style," said Leo Santa Cruz. In an attempt to force a featherweight title unification bout with Leo Santa Cruz, Gary Russell Jr. on Saturday posted an Instagram video of himself pulling up and surprising Santa Cruz's father. Leo Santa Cruz, following his loss to Carl Frampton in July, suggested that a critical factor in the judges’ decision was the vocal fervor of the new featherweight champion’s fans. Leo Santa Cruz is less concerned these days about when his career—and the sport as a whole—can resume than he is about the health and well-being of his loved ones. Boxer Leo Santa Cruz is living his father…

The inspirational story of Leo Santa Cruz's father, Jose, who was diagnosed with bone cancer. Bob Velin. LOS ANGELES -- Whenever Leo Santa Cruz's father sets eyes on his son, he is not thinking as a trainer looking at the WBA featherweight champion sweating through every punch. Russell puts his arm around Jose Santa Cruz, also Leo’s trainer, and says his son has been “ducking” him. Leo Santa Cruz gets dad back; now he wants title belt back from Carl Frampton. Hear from the Santa Cruz family about Jose's battle to overcome his condition as Leo prepares to defend his WBA Featherweight Title against Carl Frampton. Last April, a few months before the biggest fight of …

The footage shows Russell draping his arm around Santa Cruz's dad and touching the gold chains dangling around his neck. Jose Santa Cruz was a young adult working in Mexico when he was drawn to look inside a local boxing gym by the repetitive popping sound of a speed bag. Russell using Leo’s dad to try and get a fight with him is obviously the wrong move. USA TODAY Sports. Leo Santa Cruz finds pride and inspiration in dad's fight against cancer Leo Santa Cruz, left, and his father and trainer Jose Santa Cruz inspire each … Leo’s father and head trainer, Jose Santa Cruz, is also there, but until a few days ago his presence was not a given. The family patriarch has missed large chunks of this camp. One particular move done well by Chavez has become a potent weapon for Santa Cruz. He is a strategist finding the strengths in his son. In Russell’s long-running attempt to land a fight with Santa Cruz, he posted video of him and Santa Cruz’s father in a locker room at Bakersfield, California.