Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares News – And More
*LOS ANGELES *(June 9, 2018) – A rematch between featherweight world
champions and Southern California rivals *Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz *and
*Abner Mares *will headline action Saturday, June 9 live on SHOWTIME from
STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in an event presented by Premier Boxing
Champions.
Tickets for the live event, which is promoted by Ringstar Sports and TGB
Promotions, begin at $50, plus applicable fees, and are on sale now. To
purchase tickets visit AXS.com or click HERE
<axs.com/events/349964/santa-cruz-vs-mares-tickets?skin=staples>.
Santa Cruz (33-1-1, 18 KOs) and Mares (30-2-1, 15 KOs) first met in August
2015 at STAPLES Center and went toe-to-toe for 12 fast-paced rounds, with
Santa Cruz eventually earning the majority decision and a vacant
featherweight title. Now, Santa Cruz will put his WBA Super World
Featherweight Title on the line against the WBA Regular Featherweight World
Champion Mares.
The initial matchup garnered “Fight of the Year” recognition and warranted
a rematch between the consensus top-five featherweights who will look to
put on a repeat of the performance that saw them throw over 2,000 punches
combined.
“This is a fight that fans have been clamoring for and a fight that is
certain to deliver action and drama,” said Richard Schaefer of Ringstar
Sports. “This is once again a true battle for Los Angeles, with only one
man able to walk out of STAPLES Center with that crown as the best in the
city. Fans should get their tickets early, because this is sure to be a hot
ticket given the styles of each man and the motivations they have to win
this fight. I can’t wait to see what happens on June 9 and I look forward
to another memorable fight.”
“It is rare that a rematch is as highly anticipated as the initial match,
but Leo Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares 2 is one of those rematches,’’ said Tom
Brown of TGB Promotions. “Since their first match both Leo and Abner have
gone on to solidify their positions at the top of the featherweight
division, making a second meeting between them even more compelling. The
winner will definitely become the man sitting at the top of a very
competitive 126-pound division.”
”We are incredibly excited for this rematch of Southern California rivals
to take place at STAPLES Center,” Lee Zeidman, President, STAPLES Center.”
Boxing fans are in for an amazing night of fights in downtown Los Angeles
on June 9th.”
“SHOWTIME is proud to deliver yet another pivotal matchup between two of
the consensus top-five featherweights in the world,” said Stephen Espinoza,
President, Sports & Event Programing, Showtime Networks Inc. “Santa
Cruz-Mares 1 was a Fight of the Year-caliber fight with non-stop action
from start to finish, and the rematch promises more of the same – with not
just a world title at stake, but also Southern California bragging rights.
This is the type of marquee bout that has become a hallmark of SHOWTIME
CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, a true 50-50 showdown with high stakes implications.”
The popular Mexican-American* Santa Cruz* fights out of Los Angeles and
most recently stopped Chris Avalos in October 2017 after a pair of high
stakes showdowns against Irish star and two-division world champion Carl
Frampton. While Santa Cruz lost a close majority decision in their first
matchup, he bounced back in January 2017 to defeat Frampton by majority
decision and regain his 126-pound title. Prior to that, Santa Cruz won
belts at 118 and 122 pounds while earning a reputation as one of boxing’s
most active and exciting fighters. The 29-year-old also holds victories
over Cristian Mijares, Kiko Martinez and Eric Morel and has competed in
world title bouts in 14 of his last 16 fights since 2012.
“The fans can expect a full-action fight just like the first one, maybe
even better,” said Santa Cruz. “I know Abner Mares changed his trainer and
Robert Garcia is a great trainer who will bring the best out of him. But
we’re also smart and I have a strong team that will bring the best out of
me. It will be a great fight once again for the boxing fans in Los Angeles.”
Born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and fighting out of Los Angeles,
Calif., *Mares* became a four-time world champion in December 2016 when he
dropped Jesus Cuellar on his way to a unanimous decision and another
featherweight world championship. Mares most recently scored a technical
decision over Andres Gutierrez in October 2017. A Mexican Olympian in 2004,
the 32-year-old won his first title in 2011 when he beat Joseph Agbeko to
capture the bantamweight crown. He continued to rise in the pound-for-pound
list with victories over Anselmo Moreno and Daniel Ponce De Leon to win
world titles at super bantamweight and featherweight. The June 9 bout will
be Mares’ third contest with World Champion trainer Robert Garcia, who
helped Mares to a title-winning victory in their first fight together.
“It’s been over two years since I fought Leo Santa Cruz and all I’ve been
thinking about is redemption,” said Mares. “Now that I’m with Robert Garcia
and his team, you’ve seen the change. If they think I’m going to fight the
same way, they are in for a surprise.”
