Having his father in camp and in his corner on fight night has always been comforting for Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz hurt Martínez in round 5 when he cornered him and hurt him with right hands. [20] Santa Cruz finished the year with 5 wins including 3 title defenses. When things get hot, he naturally jumps directly into the cauldron. Once Antonio, Luna and Jose recovered, Leo Santa Cruz began concentrating on preparing for his huge fight with Davis. https://www.patreon.com/chiseledadoniswww.paypal.me/chiseledadonisBIG NEWS! In another 12-round firefight, Santa Cruz would walk away witht he first defeat of his professional career, as Frampton stunned many with a well-deserved Majority Decision win. I want to show the world I’m not scared of anybody.”. The fight was officially announced in March along with the rest of the undercard. 31, 2020 • [73][74] Nielsen Media Research reported the fight averaged 587,000 and peaked at 643,000 viewers. Fighting as part of the Mayweather-Manny Pacquiao pay-per-view in May 2015, Santa Cruz won his 126-pound debut with a 10-round unanimous decision over Jose Cayetano. Prediction: Although Santa Cruz hasn’t been at his brilliant best lately, he is likely to rise to the occasion here, but it’ll be a tough ask against the slick Davis. He is the fifth Mexican boxer (after Érik Morales, Jorge Arce, Juan Manuel Márquez and Canelo Álvarez) to become a world champion in four weight classes. [82] Avalos was not happy with the stoppage, "I'm very upset with the stoppage. The fight started out with both boxers trading blow, but it was Santa Cruz who was landing the harder and cleaner shots. He won his first 33 fights before a loss in his 34th to Carl Frampton. Leo Santa Cruz rolled all over former two-division champ Cristian Mijares on Saturday, scoring a dominating unanimous-decision victory to keep his junior featherweight title. However, both Davis’ WBA (Regular) lightweight title and Santa Cruz’s WBA (Super) featherweight title would be on the line. [89] Santa Cruz defeated Mares via unanimous decision after 12 rounds to retain his WBA (Super) featherweight title. 09, 2018 • He currently holds the WBA (Super) featherweight title since 2017. Santa Cruz was originally scheduled to fight Rafael Márquez, but he pulled out due to injury. Instead a new deal was being formed for Santa Cruz to make his first voluntary defence against Cesar Seda (25-1, 17 KOs) on 14 December at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada on the undercard of the Showtime PPV Marcos Maidana vs. Adrien Broner for the WBA welterweight title. His brother, Antonio, has been doing the bulk of the physical training with him. Four-Division World Champion • (37-1-1, 19 KOs) • For sponsorship or media inquires, contact [email protected] He said "It was a great fight -- another war. [24][25] Santa Cruz landed 52% of his total punches thrown which included 57 body shots. ... Abner is a great fighter. The 23-year-old Mexican native dominated his older opponent for 12 rounds, gaining a near shutout on the judges’ scorecards to take a unanimous decision. Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas, Gervonta Davis WINS against Leo Santa Cruz by KO in Leo Santa Cruz repeatedly tested negative for COVID-19, though a doctor informed him that he probably had the virus at some point. Santa Cruz was set to defend his WBA 126-pound title vs Houston’s Miguel Flores in his first fight under the new PBC on FOX deal, but Flores injured his ankle and was forced to withdraw. In June 2012, Santa Cruz took on South African veteran Vusi Malinga for the vacated 118-pound world title. According to CompuBox stats, Frampton landed 242 of 668 punches (36 percent), whilst Santa Cruz connected on 255 of 1,002 blows (25 percent). [36][37] CompuBox Stats showed that Santa Cruz landed 297 of 829 punches thrown (36%) and Seda landed 170 of his 649 thrown (26%)[38], On 9 January 2014 it was announced that Santa Cruz would finally meet veteran Mexican contender Cristian Mijares (49-7-2, 24 KOs), also his mandatory challenger at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada on 8 March, defending his WBC title. [94] A month later, the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles was confirmed as the venue. I wasn't hurt like the referee thought. [86] On 24 January 2018 Showtime announced the fight would take place at the Staples Center on 9 June 2018. I'm not scared of anybody." The four-division world champion plans to use every tool in his arsenal when he faces undefeated three-time champ Gervonta "Tank" Davis in a world title showdown Saturday night on SHOWTIME PPV. Judges Tim Cheatham (115-112), Glenn Feldman (117-110) and Julie Lederman (117-110) all had it for Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs). For the fight, Santa Cruz would earn $500,000 and Mijares had a $92,000 purse. The key to victory for Leo Santa Cruz on Saturday might not be that complicated: Just listen to dad. After his revenge victory over Frampton, Santa Cruz scored an eighth-round TKO of Chris Avalos on an October 14, 2017 card that he shared with fellow 126-pound titleholder Abner Mares. So he surprised me. Buy Leo Santa Cruz tickets at Expedia. Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York, Leo Santa Cruz LOSES to Carl Frampton by MD in Abner is a great fighter. I had to be ready. [15], On 2 December 2012 Golden Boy Promotions announced a double-header which would take place on CBS at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on 15 December where Santa Cruz would make his third defence in four months against unbeaten Mexican boxer Alberto Guevara (16-0, 6 KOs). Mijares had great experience. Frampton only landed 133 of his 592 punches thrown (22%) whereas Santa Cruz landed 230 of his 884 thrown (26%). Santa Cruz went 10-0-1 in his first 11 fights, but registered just two knockouts as he began his ascent in the 118-pound division. It was a tough fight but thank God we got the victory,” Santa Cruz said. 1, Weight The IBF title was left vacant when then-champion Abner Mares moved up in weight. [83] Mares was also victorious in his fight, setting up a rematch between himself and Santa Cruz. Rosemead, California, USA, A relentless puncher with a nonstop motor, Leo Santa Cruz has conquered three weight divisions. [100] In his post-fight interview, Santa Cruz called out Gary Russell and stated that he’d be willing to move up to lightweight for a potential fight with Gervonta Davis. [5], In April 2012, promoter Branco Milenkovic announced that a deal was set for Santa Cruz to fight South African boxer Vusi Malinga (20-3-1, 12 KOs) for the vacant IBF bantamweight title. On November 23, 2019, Santa Cruz would make history yet again, comfortably outpointing Miguel Flores over 12 rounds to win the WBA World Super Featherweight title and become a four-division world champion. His lone pro defeat was via decision to Carl Frampton, which Santa Cruz avenged in the next outing by besting Frampton on the judge’s scorecards. After a slow start in the opening round, Santa Cruz began to pick his power shots to the head and body. I'm now … In round 3, Santa Cruz dropped Terrazas twice and although he beat the count each time, the referee waved off the fight after the second knockdown. MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Carl Frampton LOSES to Leo Santa Cruz by MD in But I leave it to the fans to say who is the best. [71][72] Frampton earned a purse of $1 million compared to $900,000 that Santa Cruz received. Mares fight. I'm not scared of anyone. 27, 2016 • Los Angeles, California, Leo Santa Cruz WINS against Rafael Rivera by UD in After nearly 150 amateur victories, Santa Cruz made his pro debut in October 2006, with a second-round knockout of Pedro Silva in Nogales, Arizona, just two months after his 18th birthday. [14] Santa Cruz dropped Zaleta three times en route to a TKO victory in round 9 to retain his IBF title. That win earned him a shot against 122-pound world champion Victor Terrazas in Carson, California, in August 2013, and Santa Cruz made the most of it. [55][56] "I was surprised Abner came out so strong. With his father and his older brother Antonio overseeing his training, Santa Cruz cemented his standing atop the 122-pound division, winning wide decisions over Cesar Seda in December 2013 and Cristian Mijares in March 2014 in defense on his title. $ 1 million and Mares earned a purse of $ 750,000 compared to Ruiz 's $ 50,000 is. 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