Undefeated featherweight world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz held an open media workout Thursday at Who’s Next Boxing Academy in La Puente, Calif., as he prepares for his first title defense against Kiko “Sensación” Martinez Saturday, February 27 live on SHOWTIME from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif. Santa Cruz vs. Martinez headlines a SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING® tripleheader that features Mexican warriors Julio Ceja and Hugo Ruiz meeting in an awaited super bantamweight world title rematch plus heavyweights Gerald “El Gallo Negro” Washington and Oscar “Kaboom” Rivas will put their unblemished records on the line in a 10-round matchup. The action begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Leo Santa Cruz
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez on February 27 in Anaheim, CA
Undefeated three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz will make the first defense of his Featherweight World Championship against former world champion Kiko Martinez on Saturday, Feb. 27, live on SHOWTIME® from Honda Center in Anaheim, Calif.
The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Santa Cruz to Stay at 126 & Vacate WBC 122 Strap
New WBA (sup) 126 lb champion, Leo Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17ko), has announced that he intends to vacate his WBC super bantamweight title and continue to campaign at featherweight.
The unbeaten Mexican, who is looked after by the elusive and influential Al Haymon, has landed in China ready to attend this years WBC convention, whereby he intends to inform them of his plans.
Jose Santa Cruz on Vasyl Lomachenko: “That F*****? Give Him to Us!!
Jose Santa Cruz, father and trainer of new WBA (sup) featherweight champion Leo, believes there is little point in his son signing on for a rematch with fellow Mexican-American star Abner Mares, especially given the strong showing on Saturday night, and believes that fights with the divisions Eastern European element, including Ukrainian amateur standout and WBO 126 lb champion Vasyl Lomachenko, are the best way forward for his son.
Speaking via fighthype.com, the elder Santa Cruz said of the potential Mares rematch.
“If there are others with more technique, better technique, (we’d like them) to make for a better fight.”
Santa Cruz Captures WBA 126 lb Strap / Mares Rematch & Unification Fights on the Horizon?
After last night’s highly entertaining and hard fought victory over Abner Mares in Los Angeles, Leo Santa Cruz picked up his first featherweight world title after the (vacant) WBA 126 lb strap was added to the mix at the last minute, and the Mexico born star certainly went some way to shaking off the ‘cherry-picker’ tag that has dogged him over recent times, turning in a classy and measured performance, in what was billed as the “Battle of L.A.”
With judge Max De Luca turning in a score of 114-114, to the other two judges 117-111, a strong enough case for a rematch can be made, especially given the high levels of action that began with the visibly smaller Mares starting strong and fast, before gradually being worn down as Santa Cruz found his range and imposed his strength, tattooing Abner with the better quality shots.
Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares: Post Fight Quotes
Leo Santa Cruz:
“I was surprised Abner came out so strong. He came right at me but we figured him out and we got the win.
“I stayed outside with the jab. We were able to take control.
Santa Cruz – Mares Post Fight Results, Photos & Videos
In a battle of Southern California featherweights, Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz, (31-0-1, 17 KOs) defeated Abner Mares, (29-2-1, 15 KOs) by majority decision in a fight reminiscent of Mexican wars between boxing legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales on Saturday night. Scores tallied 117-111 twice and 114-114 in front of a raucous crowd of 13,109 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles for the Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN main event.
Santa Cruz decisions Mares
Making his debut in the featherweight division, undefeated Leo Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17 KOs) proved to be too strong and too busy for 29-year-old former three division world champion Abner Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs) in defeating him by a 12 round unanimous decision to win the WBA Super World and WBC Diamond featherweight straps tonight in their fight on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.
Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares Weigh-In Photos
Saturday Night, live on ESPN (10 PM EST) from the Staples Center in Los Angeles California, Unbeaten two-division titilist Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1 17 KO) of Rosemead California, takes on former 3-division titilist Abner Mares (29-1-1 15 KO) of Montebello California. The main event of this Saturday night’s PBC card on ESPN will be a non-title clash, contested at the Featherweight limit of 126 lbs.
Santa Cruz 27, comes into this potential “Fight of The Year” candidate as the slight betting favorite at -225. Mares 29, is pegged by oddsmakers as the slight underdog at +175.
Here is a closer look at the two pugilistic principles set to square off come Saturday night.
Santa Cruz vs. Mares: Sink or Swim for Leo Santa Cruz versus Abner Mares
Lots of leather will be thrown in this featherweight dust-up between Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz. The broadcast will air live in primetime on ESPN/ESPNDeportes from the Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA. The winner will be the King of LA without a crown with only a WBC Diamond trinket on the line. A more fitting label might be the battle to become the “Prince” of Los Angeles. Can Abner get his groove back by digging his way out of the rut he’s been stuck in for two years since suffering a shocking first round defeat to Jhonny Gonzalez? Will Leo sink or swim in his first true test of his career?
Just around two years ago (and 4 days) the stage was being set for a classic west coast matchup between a young slugger named Leo Santa Cruz and a rising star in Abner Mares. Can you hear the song? Where have you gone Joe DiMaggio? Fill in Abner Mares’s name for Joe’s in that song and it paints a picture of the current state of Abner’s once promising career.