The long-awaited showdown between undefeated two-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) and former three-division world champion Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs) is almost here. With their final press conference taking place on Thursday, August 27, a live stream will be made available via satellite and online from Club Nokia at L.A. Live in Los Angeles so fans across the country can hear from the fighters and see them face-off.
This fight headlines the third installment of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN and pits two of Southern California’s most exciting fighters against each other live from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles, in primetime on basic cable this Saturday, August 29 with televised coverage beginning at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT.
Abner Mares – Leo Santa Cruz quotes
Boxing fans and media members gathered at Placita Olvera in Los Angeles Wednesday as fight week kicked-off for Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN headlined by Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs)taking on Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs) on Saturday, August 29 from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
Televised coverage begins at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT with a super bantamweight world title fight between Hugo Ruiz (35-2, 31 KOs)and Julio Cesar Ceja (29-1, 26 KOs). Mexican brawler and Southern California favorite Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo (23-5, 19 KOs)worked out for the fans that came out to Placita Olvera before he takes on Hector Munoz (23-15, 15 KOs) Saturday night.
Tickets for the event, which is promoted by TGB Promotions, are priced at $25, $50, $75, $150 and $300, not including applicable fees and service charges, and are on sale at AXS.com or by phone at 888-929-7849 or at STAPLES Center.
Here is what the fighters had to say Wednesday:
LEO SANTA CRUZ
“We both have a lot to prove. Neither of us wants to lose. I know he’s really hungry to get the victory. I don’t want my first defeat so I’m going to go out there and put a show on.
“I have to pressure him and stay on top of him. I have to do what I always do. If that doesn’t work, we have different plans. We know the way to victory.
“This is a huge fight for Los Angeles. Everyone in the city has wanted us to fight and now they’re going to get it.
“We’re excited and happy to give the fans a great fight. At the end, the best man will win.
“You’re going to see a lot of action. I train hard to bring action. That’s what I do. We’re going to break him down little by little.
“No one wants to lose. We’re going to leave everything in the ring. When two Mexicans fight each other it’s always bloody. We both have everything to lose.
“Fight by fight I’ve been learning and picking up new things. I am definitely a brawler but I can box too. I want to finish my opponent once I get in there.”
ABNER MARES
“It feels good to be fighting in my hometown. It’s been so long since I’ve been able to fight here in Los Angeles. Headlining at STAPLES Center means the world to me and my fans. I can’t wait for August 29.
“I’m going up against a young, undefeated, talented and strong Leo Santa Cruz. He’s never tasted defeat. All of that motivates me to go in there and be the first one to take him down.
“I’m past my loss and I’m looking toward a fourth world title and making history in this sport.
“Being in Los Angeles means so much to me personally. I work so hard for these opportunities. But it’s for everybody, my family, my fans and everyone. I work hard in the gym every day for them.
“My experience is going to be the difference in this fight. I’ve faced tougher opponents and been a three-time champion. Every time that I fight someone at this level, it brings the best out of Abner Mares.
“Everything I overcame has brought me here and made me the person that I am. I’m more determined now than I’ve ever been.
“I have to win. My gameplan is to get the win. I am in there to destroy. I know what I have to do.
“Anything is possible. He has a lot of talents but I’m going to take what comes my way and put in a great performance.”
HUGO RUIZ
“Winning this fight means everything. I am prepared for a great performance.
“I’m very happy and very motivated for this fight. I’m ready for Saturday night.
“Ceja is a great fighter but we prepared one hundred percent to win this. It’s going to be the best of Mexican boxing.”
JULIO CESAR CEJA
“This is a big opportunity for me and I am coming to knock Ruiz out. That is the plan.
“I want to be world champion. It is right in front of me. My time is here and I know I have the skills to get there.
“This is going to be a great fight for the fans. We are going to exchange and show our heart and the best man is going to win.”
ALFREDO ANGULO
“I’m honored to be part of a card of this magnitude. After my last victory I took one week off and got right back in the gym.
“Santa Cruz vs. Mares is great because I know that when two Mexicans get in the ring, they leave their heart and soul in there. I’m excited to put on a show for the fans in the arena Saturday and be part of a historic night.”
Mares-Santa Cruz on PBC on ESPN this Saturday
Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN (PBC on ESPN) presented by Corona Extra will feature live coverage on ESPN, ESPN Deportes and WatchESPN on Saturday, August 29 at 10 p.m. ET from Los Angeles’ STAPLES Center of a 12-round featherweight bout between Southern California-based superstars: undefeated Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) and former three-division world champion Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 Kos).
Host Marysol Castro, blow-by-blow commentator Joe Tessitore, Teddy Atlas and reporters Todd Grisham and Bernardo Osuna comprise ESPN’s commentary team. In addition, Hall of Fame boxing writer and ESPN boxing contributor Nigel Collins will provide social media content, insight and analysis.
Pablo Viruega and Delvin Rodríguez will call the fights on ESPN Deportes, while Leopoldo Gonzalez and Claudia Trejos will co-host. Joe Cortez will also provide analysis. In addition, ESPN Deportes’ and Mexican boxing legends, Juan Manuel Marquez and Julio Cesar Chavez join coverage with analysis across a variety of shows, including special editions of Golpe a Golpe on Friday for the weigh-in, and on Saturday in anticipation of the event.
Fighter backgrounds:
A two-division world champion with a fan-friendly style, the 26-year-old Santa Cruz won his first world title in 2012 before adding another belt in 2013, which he defended four times. Unbeaten as a pro, Santa Cruz moved up in weight in his last fight and handily defeated Jose Cayetano on the pay-per-view undercard of the record-breaking Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight. Born and raised in Los Angeles to Mexican parents, Santa Cruz faces the toughest challenge of his career when he squares off against the Mexican warrior Mares.
Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and fighting out of Downey, Calif., Mares first tasted world championship gold in 2011 when he beat Joseph Agbeko to win the bantamweight world title. He continued his rise up the pound-for-pound list with wins over Anselmo Moreno and Daniel Ponce De Leon to win world titles at super bantamweight and featherweight respectively. The 29-year-old has won three straight fights including his first PBC appearance in a victory over Arturo Reyes in March. He will look to add another career milestone and take hometown bragging rights by defeating the unbeaten Santa Cruz.
Additional Highlights:
ESPN will provide live coverage of Friday’s weigh-in the 6 p.m. hour of SportsCenter, with Tessitore and Atlas providing commentary. ESPN3 will stream live coverage of Friday’s weigh-in and a live undercard fight featuring Mexican favorite Alfredo “El Perro” Angulo taking on Hector “The Hurricane” Munoz at 9 p.m, on the Saturday of the fight.
ESPN.com will present comprehensive coverage, including pre- and post-fight features, videos and blogs from ESPN’s Dan Rafael, Brian Campbell, and Nigel Collins and ESPN.com’s boxing program “Making the Rounds”.
ESPN Deportes will dedicate more than five hours of live, on-site programming around PBC, beginning Friday, August 28 with live segments, interviews and analysis during the following shows: Los Capitanes (3 p.m.), Golpe a Golpe Weigh-In Show (6 p.m.), Cronometro (7 p.m.) and SportsCenter (7:30 p.m.)
A special edition of Golpe a Golpe will air at 9 p.m. on Saturday, leading up to the fight, followed by post event SportsCenter (12 a.m.), all telecast live.
Coverage around the bout will be led by ESPN Deportes experts Jorge Eduardo Sanchez and David Faitelson alongside Marquez and Chavez.
This is the third installment of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN which debuted July 11. The August 1 bout that featured a doubleheader: Garcia vs. Malignaggi and Jacobs vs. Mora, delivered the largest boxing audience on ESPN since 1998 (5/22/98 Bronco McKart vs Ronald Weaver). An average audience of 1,073,000 viewers (P2+) watched the event.
