Abner Mares: record, next fight and profile →
As was the case in their classic first fight, the rematch was a tremendous action fight whose result was determined by Leo Santa Cruz's superior volume (88.4 punches per round to Abner Mares' 77.6) and better jabbing (28.9 attempts/8.0 connects per round to Mares' 31.1/3.4).
Leo Santa Cruz defended his WBA Featherweight World Championship by winning a unanimous decision against four-division world champion Abner Mares in their rematch Saturday night on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING®.
Santa Cruz vs. Mares Rematch Photos Gallery - Leo Santa Cruz retained his WBA belt with a twelve round unanimous decision win over Abner Mares on Saturday night, in a rematch of a 2015 featherweight title clash. (photos by Stephanie Trapp).
Staples Center, California - In a rematch of their 2015 war, WBA featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz (35-1-1, 19 KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Abner Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs). The scores were 115-113, 116-112 and 117-111 for Santa Cruz.
Abner Mares can play the 'blame-game' when it comes to his close decision loss to Leo Santa Cruz almost three years ago. Then again, that is not him. The popular Mexican-American, who grew up poor in the Los Angeles suburb of Paramount, is accountable for what happened that night.
Leo Santa Cruz won a vacant WBA featherweight belt from Abner Mares, lost it and regained it against Carl Frampton, and now attempts to ‘unify’ WBA belts against WBA featherweight titlist Abner Mares.
Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares combined to land 599 total punches and throw 2,031 total punches in this instant classic. Santa Cruz landed an average of 31 of 88 punches per round and Mares 19 of 82. That's an average of 50 punches landed per round- 16 more than the featherweight avg. They combined to throw 170 punches per round- 52 more than the featherweight avg.
Leo Santa Cruz, Abner Mares Rematch Official Weigh-in Photos Gallery - LOS ANGELES - Featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz and four-time world champion Abner Mares went face-to-face at the official weigh-in, one day before they enter the ring for their highly-anticipated rematch this Saturday, June 9 from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. (photos by Stephanie Trapp).
By Cliff Rold - Summer is sequel season for moviegoers. It’s only fitting we get a notable sequel this weekend in boxing as well. Featherweight Leo Santa Cruz (34-1-1, 19 KO) will attempt the second defense of his second reign as WBA titlist against the man he initially defeated to win a belt in a third weight class. For...
Santa Cruz, Mares Final Press Conference Photos Gallery - LOS ANGELES - Featherweight world champion Leo Santa Cruz and four-time world champion Abner Mares went face-to-face at the final press conference Thursday, two days before they enter the ring for their highly-anticipated rematch this Saturday, June 9 from STAPLES Center in Los Angeles in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions. (photos by Stephanie Trapp).