JOSE Santa Cruz, respected trainer and doting father, has passed away. Premier Boxing Champions, which promoted many of his son Leo’s finest career moments, circulated the sad news across social media during the night.
“We are deeply saddened to learn of the passing of Jose Santa Cruz, beloved father and trainer of former world champion Leo Santa Cruz.
“Born in 1958, Jose was the heart of Team Santa Cruz—an unwavering presence in his son’s corner and a true fighter in his own right.
“Our thoughts are with the Santa Cruz family during this difficult time. Rest in peace, Jose,” they wrote.
Born at the tail end of the 1950s, Santz Cruz Sr later emigrated from Mexico to California, taking his four sons with him. Raising his boys to the rhythm of the ring, boxing was a way for them to escape the harsh trappings of life in Compton.
On July 30, 2016, when Leo fought Carl Frampton in New York, Jose was there to watch his son fight in the first of their two epic battles, despite having received several rounds of chemotherapy and radiation on his spine cancer just months before.
By the time the rematch came around, in January 2017, Jose was firmly back in the corner, donning the familiar cowboy attire as his son turned the tables on Frampton and won the return. The upturn in health provided Leo and the wider family with a huge boost.
In 2020, as Leo prepared for his fight with Gervonta Davis, the multi-weight world champion revealed that the powerful patriarch had survived COVID-19, which ravaged his father during training camp.
Once again, Jose battled through. However, the 67-year-old has now succumbed to the myriad of health concerns that have dogged him, all of which he faced with resilience, grace and determination.
