Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares Weigh-In Photos

08/30/201508/28/2015 Joshua Brannon

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.

Andre Berto Los Angeles Workout Quotes – Mayweather vs. Berto

08/29/201508/28/2015 Mayweather Promotions

Two-time welterweight world champion Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) participated in a media workout at the J.W. Marriott at L.A. Live as he prepares for the biggest fight of his career. In front of an enthusiastic crowd, Berto looked focused and in great shape, jumping rope and shadowboxing, as he looks to become the first fighter to defeat 12-time world champion Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs), on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT). In addition to Berto, top 168-pound contender George Groves and former three-time world champion Jhonny Gonzalez participated in the media workout as they prepare for their respective fights on the SHOWTIME PPV broadcast.

Santa Cruz vs. Mares: Sink or Swim for Leo Santa Cruz versus Abner Mares

08/28/201508/28/2015 Chris Carlson

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.

Artur Beterbiev v Sullivan Barrera Set for IBF Eliminator for Right to Face Kovalev

08/29/201508/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Big-hitting Russian Artur Beterbiev (9-0, 9ko) finally has an opponent for his IBF 175lb final eliminator – number #9 ranked Cuban, Sullivan Barrera (16-0, 11ko), in a fight that will determine the mandatory challenger to Beterbiev’s countryman and IBF, WBA (sup) and WBO light heavyweight champion, Sergey Kovalev.

Beterbiev’s team, including promoter Yvon Michel, recently opted out of facing Kovalev in Russia in November, choosing instead to go the eliminator route, and ostensibly give their man a little more time and experience before getting in with old foe Kovalev, whom incidentally Beterbiev beat twice previously in the amateurs.

Live Stream: Andre Berto Open Workout – 4 p.m. ET

08/28/2015 Showtime Boxing

SHOWTIME Sports will offer live streams of Floyd Mayweather and Andre Berto’s media workouts as they prepare for their Welterweight World Championship taking place on Saturday, Sept. 12, live on SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT) from MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Lee Selby: Intent on Making Big Stateside Splash / Off to LA for Santa Cruz v Mares

08/28/201508/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Britain’s IBF featherweight champion Lee Selby (21-1, 8ko) has once again affirmed that he is hoping to ultimately secure the big fights in the division, and after his recent “statement of intent” signing with hugely influential advisor Al Haymon, the unassuming Welshman is heading out to be ringside at Saturday’s Premier Boxing Champions fight between potential divisional rivals Leo Santa and Abner Mares, keeping one eye of course, on the winner.

Selby, who relieved IBF fighter of the year Evgeny Gradovich of his title in London back in May, has long been talked about as a future international star on British shores, and following the lead of other British/Irish fighters Amir Khan, Carl Frampton and James DeGale, his signing with Haymon shows just how serious he is about that aim, with a potential fight with Saturday’s winner a realistic future possibility.

Hurricane Fears Postpone Saturday’s Roy Jones Jr Fight With Danny Santiago

08/28/201508/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Veteran former four weight world titlist Roy Jones Jr, who continues to fight on at 46 in the quest of an elusive title at cruiserweight, has had his fight this Saturday on the tiny Dutch Island of Philipsberg Sint Maarten in the Caribbean postponed through severe weather concerns.

It would seem to many that Mother Nature is trying to tell the long faded former champ something, although the fight with fellow old timer and former 175 lb world title challenger Danny Santiago has unfortunately not been cancelled, and will be re-arranged for a later date.

Carl Froch: I Want Groves to Win the World Title Against Badou Jack

08/28/201508/28/2015 Olly Campbell

Newly retired former 168lb world boss Carl Froch has shown a refreshingly mature attitude toward bitter rival George Groves’ impending WBC super middleweight title fight with Badou Jack, publicly putting their feud aside for the greater good: The success of British boxing on the world stage.

Froch, who twice beat Groves, including the famous “in-front of 80k at Wembley” second fight, has obviously had ample time for reflection since that night – his last in-ring outing , and as well as settling into his television punditry duties, is now focused on life with his young family, and the ‘change’ in attitude, especially regarding Groves, is telling.

Floyd Mayweather, Badou Jack, Ishe Smith Open Media Quotes, Videos, Photos

08/27/201508/27/2015 Showtime Boxing

Floyd “Money” Mayweather (48-0, 26 KOs) opened up the Mayweather Boxing Club on Wednesday for his last media day ever as he prepares for the last fight of a celebrated 19-year career. He will defend his WBC and WBA Welterweight World Championships against power-punching, two-time welterweight world champion Andre Berto (30-3, 23 KOs) on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, live on SHOWTIME PPV® (8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT).

If triumphant, Mayweather would match the record of the late heavyweight champion Rocky Marciano, who retired in April 1956 with a record of 49-0.

Miguel Cotto – Canelo NYC press conference quotes

08/27/201508/27/2015 Golden Boy Promotions

Reigning WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Middleweight World Champion Miguel Cotto (40-4, 33 KOs) and former WBC and WBA Super Welterweight World Champion Canelo Alvarez (45-1-1, 32 KOs) were greeted by hundreds of chanting fans as they hosted a press conference in New York City on Wednesday, August 26 as part of their international four-city press tour ahead of their highly anticipated championship showdown in November.

The next mega-fight in the storied Puerto Rico vs. Mexico boxing rivalry will take place Saturday, Nov. 21 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas and will be produced and distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View. At the New York City press conference held at the Wyndham New Yorker Hotel, Cotto, the first native of Puerto Rico to become world champion in four different weight classes, and Mexican superstar Alvarez were joined by their promoters and trainers to discuss what promises to be this year’s most epic battle.