BoxRec

With a lame boxing schedule these past weeks, part of me is pumped for this fight. But the realist in me, thinks that Mares is going to get smacked around in a one sided beat down in this one.

I know that people are making a big deal about Leo stepping up in weight and knocking him for his lack of quality opposition but Mares just hasn't been the same since the first round shocker at the hands of Jhonny Gonzalez. Though Mares came out with victories in the 3 fights since, he has not looked good. He's taking way too many shots from poor fighters and struggled at times in those fights when I have to believe Leo would have walked right through Reyes, Ramirez and Oquendo.

This is not a weight class that I would fashion myself as intelligent about so could someone please tell me if I should be excited for this fight and why? I'm boxing deprived right now and need a fix.

Yes, you should be looking forward to this one because while LSC is bigger he is not a big puncher. This is unlikely to end too early and it will be interesting how LSC takes Mares speed and pop.

Also, Mares may go low to try to even things up as he has in the past.

One thing is absolutely certain, there will be a lot of punches thrown and many landed. While Mares may utilize movement he cannot resist a fight.

There will be blood.

Two top 5 guys in divisions with a 4 pound gap.

Crazy how certain fighters with certain allegiances get scrutinized beyond reason.

I have no idea what you're talking about as far as Abner Mares not looking good. He looks great in his recent fights. That's like looking at Yuri Gamboa and going "Yeah, he doesn't look good. He looks lethargic and unskilled." Mares has demonstrated great handspeed, power, accuracy, and combination punching in his return fights. Additionally, I disagree with your statement that Leo Santa Cruz would have steamrolled these opponents. He didn't dominate or stop Cesar Seda and Jose Cayetano, who are of very similar caliber to Reyes and Oquendo, possibly a little lower.

Abner Mares is not much different from his prime form, which was borderline top 10 p4p at the time. Leo Santa Cruz may be top 20 or top 25 p4p right now, with Mares unquestionably being his best opponent to date. This fight may possibly catapult the winner into the top 10 p4p, or at least top 15.

Finally, it is not the mismatch that you portray. The betting odds only place Santa Cruz at about 62% chance to win. Meanwhile, Mayweather, Usyk, Stevenson, and Anthony Joshua are all 1/41 favorites in their respective fights, which is completely pathetic. If you're a boxing fan and watching something other than Santa Cruz - Mares in the near future, you're doing it wrong. The only boxing matches that I could see as being equally meritorious, or even in the same ballpark, are Kameda - McDonnell and Lee - Saunders; only because of how close they are, because they do not carry nearly the same significance.

I'm a lot more excited about Ruiz Vs Ceja personally...but that's on the same card so tune in to that one anyway!

Grrrreat fight. Taking Mates to win. LSC is busy, but won't KO mares. Mares may stop him or win by decision imo.

Badhusker wrote:Grrrreat fight. Taking Mates to win. LSC is busy, but won't KO mares. Mares may stop him or win by decision imo.

Im siding towards Mares too but its mighty close,most people have went for Santa Cruz in the PTBF last time i checked,i was surprised not many went with Mares

I can see Santa Cruz winning too but i just think Mares is more experienced,has been fighting at Featherweight a while now and has fought the much tougher opposition,i was a massive fan of Leo at Bantamweight,i thought he always stole the show with his performances and was hoping he'd have had a big fight like this by now but i like him a little less after each passing fight these days

I do think both will bring the best of each other in this one because Abner hasnt been great himself since the Gonzalez KO so its a rare genuine 50/50 match up that tops the bill

From what i'm gathering so far, most people are excited for this fight and the undercard bout so it should be a good entry bout into a great final quarter of the boxing year. It seems that LSC is favored with over 60% of the vote but people think that it will be close with many punches landed and it will probably go the distance.

I'm always in the underdogs corner when I don't have a dog in the fight so Mares, lets go.

Santa Cruz is the bigger fighter, but mares is so much more skilled that I truly believe it will more than make up for what he lacks in size on fight night. In addition as someone mentioned earlier, Leo's punching power isn't that of jhonny gonzales or anything like that so i actually expect abner to win 7-5 on 2 cards and 8-4 on the other.

Lackeos wrote:I have no idea what you're talking about as far as Abner Mares not looking good. He looks great in his recent fights. That's like looking at Yuri Gamboa and going "Yeah, he doesn't look good. He looks lethargic and unskilled." Mares has demonstrated great handspeed, power, accuracy, and combination punching in his return fights. Additionally, I disagree with your statement that Leo Santa Cruz would have steamrolled these opponents. He didn't dominate or stop Cesar Seda and Jose Cayetano, who are of very similar caliber to Reyes and Oquendo, possibly a little lower.

Abner Mares is not much different from his prime form, which was borderline top 10 p4p at the time. Leo Santa Cruz may be top 20 or top 25 p4p right now, with Mares unquestionably being his best opponent to date. This fight may possibly catapult the winner into the top 10 p4p, or at least top 15.

Finally, it is not the mismatch that you portray. The betting odds only place Santa Cruz at about 62% chance to win. Meanwhile, Mayweather, Usyk, Stevenson, and Anthony Joshua are all 1/41 favorites in their respective fights, which is completely pathetic. If you're a boxing fan and watching something other than Santa Cruz - Mares in the near future, you're doing it wrong. The only boxing matches that I could see as being equally meritorious, or even in the same ballpark, are Kameda - McDonnell and Lee - Saunders; only because of how close they are, because they do not carry nearly the same significance.