Santa Cruz-Mares Winner May Become Mandatory To Russell

[Ruthless-RKO]

In addition to fighting for the World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title, Mexicans Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares will practically have a WBC eliminator on Saturday night at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California.

According to World Boxing Council President Mauricio Sulaiman, his organization has sanctioned the rematch for the WBC 'Diamond' title at 126-pounds.

Now he wants to make a few moves where the winner would become the mandatory challenger to current WBC featherweight titleholder Gary Russell Jr.

"It's a fight for the Diamond title, it's an official WBC fight," said Sulaiman.

"Russell just made his mandatory defense (May 19), but I'm going to try to make the winner a mandatory challenger against Russell, he makes one fight per year and we're going to try to make the winner a challenger."

[SenorPipino]

Once-a-year Russell says that he wants to have another fight this year, and wouldn't mind a unification with the Santa Cruz-Mares winner.

Since they're all advised by Haymon, the potential strongly exists. But nothing is ever certain in these matters.

I'm surprised that Santa Cruz is a fairly heavy 1-6 favorite over Mares.

He certainly deserved the majority decision in their first fight, but it was still a very competitive and exciting matchup with the two men combining to throw more than 2000 punches.

The more active Santa Cruz will probably earn another decision Saturday, but he has that hard charging, whirlwind style that usually results in a pretty short prime.

At 29, he probably has enough in the tank to once again tame Mares. But he would be hard pressed to overcome the speedy, talented Russell.

[gilgamesh]

Once-a-year Russell says that he wants to have another fight this year, and wouldn't mind a unification with the Santa Cruz-Mares winner.

Since they're all advised by Haymon, the potential strongly exists. But nothing is ever certain in these matters.

I'm surprised that Santa Cruz is a fairly heavy 1-6 favorite over Mares.

He certainly deserved the majority decision in their first fight, but it was still a very competitive and exciting matchup with the two men combining to throw more than 2000 punches.

The more active Santa Cruz will probably earn another decision Saturday, but he has that hard charging, whirlwind style that usually results in a pretty short prime.

At 29, he probably has enough in the tank to once again tame Mares. But he would be hard pressed to overcome the speedy, talented Russell.

I'm surprised he's not a bigger favorite personally. He's basically a guaranteed winner against Mares.

The 1st fight should've been a UD, and this one will be more clear. They're trying to sell this to the public on "The first fight was a Fight of the Year contender"...but it's really just "Hey let's get Leo another safe Title defense"

[SenorPipino]

Once-a-year Russell says that he wants to have another fight this year, and wouldn't mind a unification with the Santa Cruz-Mares winner.

Since they're all advised by Haymon, the potential strongly exists. But nothing is ever certain in these matters.

I'm surprised that Santa Cruz is a fairly heavy 1-6 favorite over Mares.

He certainly deserved the majority decision in their first fight, but it was still a very competitive and exciting matchup with the two men combining to throw more than 2000 punches.

The more active Santa Cruz will probably earn another decision Saturday, but he has that hard charging, whirlwind style that usually results in a pretty short prime.

At 29, he probably has enough in the tank to once again tame Mares. But he would be hard pressed to overcome the speedy, talented Russell.

I'm surprised he's not a bigger favorite personally. He's basically a guaranteed winner against Mares.

The 1st fight should've been a UD, and this one will be more clear. They're trying to sell this to the public on "The first fight was a Fight of the Year contender"...but it's really just "Hey let's get Leo another safe Title defense"

Mares showed some new tricks under Robert Garcia. He's been moving more and not waiting as much. Throwing combinations.

He was the underdog to Cuellar and pretty much controlled the bout.

Maybe the win over Cuellar doesn't look as impressive in light of how Davis manhandled him. But Davis is a much bigger guy than Mares.

I expect the rematch to be closer. Mares won't load up as much. He'll box instead of looking for a single big home run punch. More jabs instead of right hands that constantly missed.

It might not be enough, but if Mares and Santa Cruz are as active as they were the first time around, it should still be a satisfying match.

[klitoris]

Gary Russel vs Santa Cruz is probably the besr fight that can be made at the division both competitively and stylistically. Both guys throw a lot of punches and it should be a pretty damn good fight!