By Jake Donovan
Apparently Leo Santa Cruz has reached a point in his career where his critics will question his motives no matter whom he faces.
It was understandable to look down upon his past few fights, as the unbeaten two-division champ had severely dumbed down his competition in the past couple of years. However, there’s no sensible reason to throw shade at his long-awaited showdown with Abner Mares, headlining the August 29 edition of Premier Boxing Champions (PBC) on ESPN live from Staples Center in Los Angeles.
Those with sense view the fight as perhaps the best matchup—on paper—produced by PBC since rolling out its brand earlier this year. Others choose to question the angle being played by Santa Cruz, as to why this particular fight is happening now.
Some suggest it’s because Mares has already lost and has looked like a different fighter in subsequent comeback fights. Others speculate if Santa Cruz was perhaps forced to take this fight after being granted a string of stay-busy type assignments, biding his time while his handlers sought the best opportunity to launch his brand to the mainstream.
To his credit, the fighter himself absorbed the criticism while awaiting an opportunity such as what awaits him in less than a week.
“I listened to the fans and the criticism,” Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17KOs) admits of the backlash, perhaps never louder than his 10-round win over unheralded Jose Cayetano this past May. “I wished I could choose and say I'm going to fight this fighter, and just go on ahead and fight him. But I had to leave it to my team. They're here to protect me. They know what's right.
“So that's why I listen to them and they know what's best. But sooner or later, I'm going to fight the fight that the fans want.”
A showdown with Mares has been discussed for years, though when taking a step back it seems that now is actually the perfect time for such a crossroads fight.
Dating back to his May ’10 draw with Yhonny Perez, you’d be hard-pressed to find a fighter in the sport with a stronger run than what Mares endured over a three year stretch. From Perez to Darchinyan to then-bantamweight titlist Joseph Agbeko, Mares took the toughest road possible to become the first home-grown fighter for former promoter Golden Boy Promotions to win a major title.
The rough road didn’t get any smoother in the aftermath. A rematch with Agbeko was followed by title wins and defenses versus Eric Morel and Anselmo Moreno, before moving up to unseat Daniel Ponce de Leon for his third title in as many weight classes.
It was enough to where he was a heavy favorite heading into his Aug. ’13 featherweight title defense against former two-division champ Jhonny Gonzalez. On the undercard, Santa Cruz was moving up in weight in pursuit of his second divisional crown as he faced Victor Terrazas.
The Showtime-televised doubleheader was designed to build interest in a future head-on collision. However, Mares was on Santa Cruz’ radar long before that night.
“I started my career and I saw Mares in my weight class and he has been really good throughout his career,” Santa Cruz notes of his upcoming rival, not at all feeling the need to downplay his opponent’s noteriety. “I think I had like four, five fights at the time and I knew that maybe in the future we're going to have to face each other and I never doubted that we were going to face each other.
“So, yes, it was always in my mind that sooner or later we're going to face each other.”
It was going to have to be later, though by no fault of Santa Cruz, who undoubtedly wanted to continue to build on the momentum which began with his 12-round win over Vusi Malinga in their June ’12 bantamweight title fight.
The main event of the aforementioned televised doubleheader produced the biggest upset of the 2013 boxing season, as Gonzalez scored a stunning 1st round knockout of the previously unbeaten Mares.
The result prompted a hiatus and career overhaul before returning to the ring last July. Mares has since won three straight, including a 10-round win over Arturo Santos this past March. Each of his past three performances has featured a more reserved version of the former pound-for-pound entrant who was once more willing to chase after the sound of gunfire.
Santa Cruz believes a fight like this—with major bragging rights at stake, given both proudly represent Mexico and Los Angeles—will bring out the best in his longtime rival.
“After that loss it certainly seemed that (Mares is less willing to engage), but I understand that come August 29th, that all that's going to go out the window,” Santa Cruz anticipates. “Abner is going to come forward and wants to stand and trade and I will be willing to oblige by that, and then we will go from there, and go toe-to-toe.”
An all-out war is the type of fight he has envisioned from the first time they’ve spent time in the ring. The workout sessions they’ve shared are hardly reflective of the fighters they are today, as both have evolved from their earlier respective fighting styles.
“It's been like six, seven years since we fought in sparring,” Santa Cruz recalls of their initial interaction. “He has changed a lot. I have changed a lot too. We're going to come out in the first round and try to use our game plan. If it's not working, we're going to change the plan to what we're working on in the gym with my dad (head trainer Jose Santa Cruz).
“But we have the plan to fight and to get the victory. We're going to go out there, do what we're doing in the gym. And once we're up there, we're going to know how to fight and get the victory.”
And if he instead endures his first loss? It’s right back to the drawing board with the team—his family—that’s believed in him from day one.
“It's very important (to stay calm), but with all the hard work and everything we've been doing in the gym, it's going to come out good. And if it doesn't, (my team is) still going to be there for me no matter what happens in the fight.
“Sometimes you lose, sometimes you win, but we have to be concentrated and focused on what we want and know that we're going to go out there and put on a great show.”
It’s something he’s known for as long as he’s desired a showdown with Abner Mares. The fight comes by popular demand, long overdue in the minds of some but just in time for Santa Cruz to confirm his greatness as well as his willingness to embrace tough challenges.
Jake Donovan is the managing editor of BoxingScene.com.
Twitter: @JakeNDaBox
Facebook Page: JakeBScene