To read about fight preview Leo Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares click here.
Recap
The fight offered plenty of entertainment. Initially, 32-year-old Mexican American seemed to be controlling the ring. However, Santa Cruz soon took over and fully dominated the last rounds of the fight, with judges scoring 29-year-old fighter the victor. Post-fight Mares showed an interest in a 3rd match against Cruz. However, most fans are not excited about yet another fight between the two. In fact, Cruz has been calling out for featherweight champ Gary Russell Jr. Though there is a great possibility for this fight to take place, Russell Jr.’s previous 4-year record shows that one cannot conveniently matchmake with him.
Santa’s strategy against Mares included defining power jabs and lethal phenomenal left and right hooks. Though Mares was able to cope up with the inflicted pain, Santa’s bombardment of shots did not cease. He continued to take on his rival with powerful shots that made himself invincible for 32-year-old Mares. Although Mares had bagged victory in his only two fights since losing to Cruz in 2015, he couldn’t pull an effective strategy to make a comeback against the Earthquake. The bout followed a similar pattern it did in 2015 with only difference in Mares stronger will to fight back. Though it was quite evident that Mares lacked the explosiveness, the only graceful option that he was left with was to fight back and hope for a draw.
Santa Cruz’s win got him a whopping $1 million purse while Mares bagged $ 750,000.
