For quite some time, fight fans have pondered of the idea of witnessing a match-up between featherweights Leo Santa Cruz andAbner Mares. Both Santa Cruz and Mares have fan friendly styles, and have won titles in multiple divisions. However, there were several hurdles that stood in the way, which prevented the duel from materializing.
For starters, there were issues surrounding weight. Santa Cruz fought at 122 pounds, while Mares reigned supreme at 126. Shortly thereafter, Mares was shockingly blitzed by Jhonny Gonzalez within 1 round. So in an attempt to regain his pre-Gonzalez mojo, Mares took on a few ‘gimme’ fights-three to be exact. So as the ‘Sweet Science’ aficionados stood in limbo, Santa Cruz pulled a page out of Mares’ book. He took a few easy fights to keep busy, while moving up in weight. And just like that the fight was made.
The Mexico-born pugilists, who now call Los Angeles home, will lock horn in the highly anticipated contest that will headline the third installment of the Premier Boxing Champions series on ESPN. The scrap will take place on August 29, at the Staples Center, beginning at 10 pm EST.
Santa Cruz’s last fight took place in the featherweight division. He easily defeated Jose Cayetano, a journeyman opponent, via a 10-round unanimous decision on May 2 on the Floyd Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao undercard. Santa Cruz, 30-0-1, (17), now 26 years-of-old, said that Mares was the opponent he has been yearning for quite some time.
As for Mares, 29-1-1, (15), the soon to be 30-year-old, had faced top opposition prior to losing to Gonzalez. Mares defeated the likes of Joseph Agbeko, Anselmo Moreno, and Daniel Ponce De Leon all while in the process of reaching the summit of the 126 pound landscape.
Mares-Santa Cruz is a must see fight, that could potentially open up the doors for other great matchups against elite fighters such as Guillermo Rigondeaux, Vasyl Lomachenko, Scott Quigg, Carl Frampton, Gary Russell, Jr., and Nicholas Walters. Mares and Santa Cruz have taken the first step, not to mention that it can be seen on free television.
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