Leo Santa Cruz: record, next fight and profile →
Luis Sandoval catches up with undefeated WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz to discuss his upcoming mandatory defense against veteran Cristian Mijares, taking place in the co-featured slot to the Saul Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo Showtime Pay-Per-View on March 8th from the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
LOS ANGELES - Hundreds of fans turned out on a Tuesday afternoon to witness up close and personal Mexican boxing superstar Canelo Alvarez, fan favorite Alfredo "El Perro" Angulo and four other world-class action fighters for a jam-packed press conference hosted by Golden Boy Promotions to formally announce "TOE TO TOE: Canelo vs. Angulo,'' a fantastic four-fight telecast on Saturday, March 8, on SHOWTIME PPV® from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Joining the popular main event fighters at the Los Angeles Central Public Library Outdoor Plaza undefeated Two-Division World Champion Leo "Terremoto" Santa Cruz, former Three-Time World Champion Cristian "El Diamante" Mijares.
Former world champion Cristian Mijares has signed a contract to secure his mandatory shot at Leo Santa Cruz, the super bantamweight world champion of the World Boxing Council (WBC). The fight is scheduled to take place on the 8th of March at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. The main event will feature a junior middleweight war between Saul "Canelo" Alvarez and Alfredo Angulo.
A deal is very close for Cristian Mijares to face current WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (26-0-1, 15KOs) on March 8th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. The fight would be part of the Saul "Canelo" Alvarez vs. Alfredo Angulo Showtime Pay-Per-View. Mijares (49-7-2, 24), a two division champion, is the mandatory challenger to the title. After what some felt was a controversial decision loss to Victor Terrazas in April 2013, the WBC ordered a rematch. It never happened after Santa Cruz easily stopped Terrazas to the title. Mijares stayed busy with a knockout win in July and another in December.
Richard Schaefer, CEO of Golden Boy Promotions, tells BoxingScene.com that it wasn't easy to finalize a deal for a Showtime Pay-Per-View collision between former junior middleweight champion Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (42-1-1, 30KOs) and dangerous Alfredo Angulo (22-3, 18KOs), for March 8th at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Former champion Cristian Mijares (49-7-2, 24KOs) is really motivated to face WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (26-0-1, 15KOs) in 2014. Mijares is the mandatory challenger to the title. Mijares started the year with a close split decision loss to Victor Terrazas in April. He then won his next two 2013 outings by knockout. Santa Cruz easily knocked out Terrazas in August to capture the WBC title.
César Seda Sr., father, trainer and manager of Cesar Seda Jr. (25-2, 17KOs), says that even though his son lost to WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz last Saturday night in San Antonio, he showed he’s ready to be right up there in the elite ranks of boxing. Seda Jr. was defeated by way of a twelve round unanimous decision as part of a Showtime televised quadrupleheader from the Alamodome.
Junior featherweight titleholder Leo Santa Cruz has been quite active, fighting five times in 2012 and three times in 2013. And his next appearance following his Dec. 14 decision win over Cesar Seda could come just two months later. “He would like to fight Feb. 15, so we’re going to try to see if we can get that,” said Richard Schaefer of Golden Boy Promotions, speaking to reporters after Saturday’s card in San Antonio. “I think it’s going to be a tripleheader.”
Leo Santa Cruz, bothered somewhat by Cesar Seda's movement, fought at a more measured pace (25 of 69 punches landed per round). Santa Cruz landed an avg. of 8 of 31 jab per round, while Seda landed a respectable 36% of his power shots. Santa Cruz landed an avg. of 36 of 97 punches in his previous six fights.
Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas - In a very exciting battle, WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (26-0-1, 15KOs) won a twelve round unanimous decision over Cesar Seda (25-2, 17KOs). The scores were 116-111, 115-112, 117-110. Seda gave as good as he got in the first four rounds, actually slowing down Santa Cruz's usually incredible workrate. During the fifth, Santa Cruz scored a knockdown when he caught Seda pulling out. He wasn't hurt and appeared to be more off-balance. They went toe to toe with hard punches in the eight and it was the first time where Seda appeared to be wearing down. Seda tried picking up the pace and made it a war in the final three rounds but was being outgunned by Santa Cruz.