By Cliff Rold - It doesn’t take long perusing through social media to find them.
Sure, there is plenty of excitement. More excitement than not. Most fans get it. Sometimes fights don’t happen at the perfect time. Sometimes, during what seems like an inevitable build, someone gets knocked off. That doesn’t make this less than a stellar Featherweight match this Saturday on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN.
Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KO) is still a titleholder at 122 lbs. He’s still undefeated. He’s still only 27. Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KO) is 29 and only recently went through as stiff a run of foes as anyone south of Carl Froch. It’s the fight that seemed to make the most sense once Mares walked away from a rematch with Johnny Gonzalez.
It took a little longer than was ideal but we’re still getting it while both are under 30 and under dramatic pretense. We’ve got a genuine crossroads fight. Santa Cruz has been fairly criticized for not upping his competition since he’s been at Jr. Featherweight. Mares has looked a little less than his best since the Gonzalez loss.
That makes this must win for both guys whether Santa Cruz ultimately returns down the scale to continue to defend his title or Mares gets himself backs towards the title picture at 126 lbs. Is Santa Cruz really a legitimate top guy? Is Mares a spent force, having taken too many tough fights from 2010-13 and now mentally weighed down by a knockout loss? [Click Here To Read More]
Sure, there is plenty of excitement. More excitement than not. Most fans get it. Sometimes fights don’t happen at the perfect time. Sometimes, during what seems like an inevitable build, someone gets knocked off. That doesn’t make this less than a stellar Featherweight match this Saturday on Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN.
Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KO) is still a titleholder at 122 lbs. He’s still undefeated. He’s still only 27. Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KO) is 29 and only recently went through as stiff a run of foes as anyone south of Carl Froch. It’s the fight that seemed to make the most sense once Mares walked away from a rematch with Johnny Gonzalez.
It took a little longer than was ideal but we’re still getting it while both are under 30 and under dramatic pretense. We’ve got a genuine crossroads fight. Santa Cruz has been fairly criticized for not upping his competition since he’s been at Jr. Featherweight. Mares has looked a little less than his best since the Gonzalez loss.
That makes this must win for both guys whether Santa Cruz ultimately returns down the scale to continue to defend his title or Mares gets himself backs towards the title picture at 126 lbs. Is Santa Cruz really a legitimate top guy? Is Mares a spent force, having taken too many tough fights from 2010-13 and now mentally weighed down by a knockout loss? [Click Here To Read More]
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