By Jake Donovan
LAS VEGAS
--Leo Santa Cruz won virtually every second of his featherweight debut, dominating countryman Jose Cayetano over 10 rounds Saturday evening at MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Scores were 100-90 across the board in a bout that served as little more than a chance for Santa Cruz - a former titlist at bantamweight and junior featherweight - to test the featherweight waters.
Cayetano put up a stiff challenge, his durable chin and natural size advantage all that he really brought to the table in his first fight outside of Mexico. Santa Cruz was unable to put a dent in his opponent's armor, though not for a lack of trying as he landed more than 400 punches in just 10 rounds of action.
Hindering his chances of producing an early ending was the possibility that Santa Cruz injured his right hand early in the night. The unbeaten boxer was shaking his hand since round three, but never stopped throwing punches in his best effort to put forth an honest effort.
Santa Cruz advances to 30-0-1 (17KOs) with the win, his second on the year and first since abandoning his 122 lb. title. Many have clamored for a showdown with former three-division champ Abner Mares, who reportedly inquired through Showtime's Brian Custer if Santa Cruz confirmed such a fight in his post-fight interview.
Just as he was unable to produce a knockout in 10 rounds of one-sided action, Santa Cruz failed to show any semblance of power when pressed on the possibility of the fight taking place.
"Hopefully we get that fight next," claims Santa Cruz. "Abner Mares, we want that fight. I'll talk to my team and hopefully we can make that happen."
The bout served as the chief support to the highly anticipated showdown between Floyd Mayweather and Manny Pacquiao.
Jake Donovan is the Managing Editor of BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
