Did you know Santa Cruz-Mares is on this weekend? If not, it’s quite forgivable. The non-title Featherweight match-up hasn’t reached as far as the likes of Mayweather-Berto and Cotto-Canelo. But that said, the PBC headliner could turn out to be a classic rumble at the Staples Center, Los Angeles.
Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KO) and Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KO) have predicted an all-out war. And you know what? That prediction doesn’t seem too bold at all. With that in mind, here are 5 big reasons why Santa Cruz-Mares is well worth catching.
Santa Cruz-Mares: 5 Big Reasons to Watch
1. We’ll finally find out if undefeated Santa Cruz is the real deal!
The former WBC Junior Featherweight champ is no slouch, but it has been said countless times that he is one of boxing’s most overprotected fighters. And since early 2014, he’s not faced a legitimate threat. Santa Cruz isn’t in need of a gut-check fight exactly, but is in need of a tough challenge to get his ever-multiplying detractors off his back. Three-weight world champ Mares, a technically sound boxer-puncher, looks to be the man to provide that true challenge.
2. This ‘could’ be one hell of a comeback for Mares
Some people have written off Mares since he was taken out by Jhonny Gonzalez in the opening round of their 2013 meeting. And since Mares has taken his time to rebuild against tune-up opponents for his three fights, it’s forgivable. We’re a little more ‘au contraire’. The Gonzalez defeat did see a crunching left-hook knock down Mares, but the damage seemed to impact his confidence more than ability, engine and armor going forward. If Mares is the rebuilt fighter he is proclaiming to be, then he has a good chance of beating Santa Cruz in what would be a hell of a comeback.
3. It’s an all Mexican clash that promises fireworks
We can’t promise fireworks, sure, but given Santa Cruz and Mares’ track records, we should see plenty. Santa Cruz is one of those scary kinds of fighters who just loves to be in a fight. You know, those ‘boogeymen’ types that just keep coming forward. He can bang, box, and at 5′ 7 1/2″ with a 69″ reach, he’s a big threat to any 126-pounder – certainly at his former 122 pounds, anyway.
Mares is also a boxer-puncher, but unlike his scheduled dance partner, he has arguably faced the harder opposition. Mares will be the underdog going in, but his superior boxing smarts shouldn’t be overlooked. Santa Cruz-Mares is a clash of styles, indeed. Two questions: Can Mares outsmart and operate his rangier, taller foe, or will Santa Cruz’s strength and pressure prove all too much?
4. A title shot at Walters, Lomachenko or Russel Jr awaits the winner
OK, it’s not a fact, per se. Anything can happen in boxing. But it just so happens Al Haymon represents division leaders Nicholas Walters, Vasyl Lomachenko, Gary Russel Jr, plus newly crowned IBF champ, Lee Selby. Throw in the fact Haymon represents Santa Cruz and Mares and it’s pretty clear that a fight will materialize sometime in the near future (short of an uneventful, dreary affair). With such fights in reach for both combatants, we can expect them to approach this fight with great focus and vigor.
5. Mexican pride is on the line here!
In addition to a title shot and career reboot for both boxers, steely Mexican pride is on the line. Cheesy?. Nah. Since Cotto-Canelo is being billed as the battle of Puerto Rico vs Mexico, we’ve no qualms with pointing out the fact. Mexican boxing is steeped in rich history, and has produced some of hardest, sculpted warriors of all time. Not to mention some of the most talented. Santa Cruz and Mares reside in California but hail from Mexico – and that ‘rivalry’ factor should hopefully make for a lively contest.
Boxing aficionados might want to point out that the WBC Diamond Featherweight title is on the line in Santa Cruz-Mares. But since we don’t have the foggiest notion what it really means, we thought we’d bypass it. It’s just, you know…a diamondy, shiny…non-title belt thingy. We are advocates of the sanctioning body’s new anti-doping program, however, which already has Lucas Matthysse and Viktor Postol on board.
Catch Santa Cruz-Mares Live
Santa Cruz-Mares can be caught live on August 29th via ESPN. UK fight fans can also catch the action via BT Sport. Boxing Base will be providing Round by Round updates here and on Twitter. Our Santa Cruz-Mares Extended Tale of the Tape will also be posted this week.
Come on fight fans, get those predictions flowing…
The BoxingBase.com writing staff provide worldwide boxing news, coverage and analysis – they can be contacted via email and social media.
