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.
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.
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.
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.
This Saturday sees California-based Mexican rivals Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares go to war at the Staples Center on a PBC on ESPN broadcast that represents a battle of Los Angeles, securing not only local bragging rights for the winner, but a surefire move on to bigger and better things.
WBC 122lb champ Santa Cruz is fighting up at 126 for the first time against former 3 weight world champ Mares, although physically he will be the bigger – and ostensibly stronger man on the night – he realises that both guys, especially Mares, badly need the win to progress, and especially if it’s a close one, a rematch will almost certainly be called for.
If Don King succeeds in putting the kibosh on next Saturday’s Mosley/Mayorga rematch, then fight fans will only have the PBC on ESPN Leo Santa Cruz/Abner Mares bout – that takes place at the Staples Centre in LA on the same night – for their fistic viewing pleasure.
Not that there will be too many fans disappointed by that mind you, given they were set to pay $49.95 for the “priviledge of watching the ageing veterans go at it, yet one of the protagonists in the latter, free-to-air bout – Abner Mares – has promised he has returned to his form of old and will be looking to stun his fellow California-based Mexican rival in their long awaited, and far more relevant bout.
LOS ANGELES (August 18, 2015) – Former three division world champion Abner Mares was joined by dozens of Los Angeles media members today during his open media workout at his Del Mares Gym. Mares is preparing for his Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on ESPN showdown with Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz on Saturday, August 29 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles.
Mares went through a full training session as media members watched on and documented the event. In addition, the Mexican band Banda Culiacansito performed a private concert as he went through his workout.
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.
LOS ANGELES (July 14, 2015) – Mexican boxing stars Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KOs) and Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs) met today at Plaza Mexico to officially announced their Saturday, August 29 Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN showdown taking place at STAPLES Center.
The fighters hosted an open-to-the-public press conference and fan rally to discuss their upcoming bout with media members and met with fans to sign autographs and take pictures.
Hundreds of fans attended the event at Plaza Mexico in Linwood and the fighters stayed to sign autographs for over two hours afterwards.