BS.com has learned that Keith Thurman-Josesito Lopez, Leo Santa Cruz-Miguel Flores and Danny Garcia-Adrian Granados are among the FOX main events that’ll be revealed during a press conference Tuesday in Los Angeles.
Premier Boxing Champions/FOX main events through April are expected to be announced during that event. Al Haymon’s organization and FOX, a broadcast network available in roughly 120 million homes in the United States, announced a new partnership two months ago that will begin December 22 with a show that’ll feature twins Jermall Charlo and Jermell Charlo in respective defenses of their WBC interim middleweight title and WBC super welterweight crown.
The Santa Cruz-Flores fight is expected to headline a FOX card February 16. Santa Cruz (35-1-1, 19 KOs), of Rosemead, California, will defend his WBA “super” featherweight title against Houston’s Flores (23-2, 11 KOs).
Last edited by Ruthless-RKO on 28 Jan 2019, 14:58, edited 2 times in total.
3 weight world champion and never unified. He knocked out avalos and not is fighting a guy avalos knocked out. Before and after the Frampton fights he hasn’t fought to many top opponents. Guys a bit of a joke.
Boxing writers and media types slammed the match-up:
The fact that Leo Santa Cruz is fighting Miguel Flores and not Gary Russell Jr is shambolic. There is absolutely no reason why that fight can’t happen. No barriers whatsoever for them negotiations. It’s a perfect fight. Just horrible.
— Cameron Gillon (@CameronGillon_) November 13, 2018
The only rancid fight of those about to be announced today is Santa Cruz-Flores. That’s a waste.
Thurman-Lopez I understand. Keith needs his sacrificial lamb for his comeback. Now should he be headlining? That’s another question, and it’s not something that’s a concern of mine.
— adam abramowitz (@snboxing) November 13, 2018
February 16 #PBConFox – Los Angeles, Calif.
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Miguel Flores (worst matchup of the batch)
John Molina Jr. vs. Omar Figueroa (I actually love this matchup)
— Jake Donován (@JakeNDaBox) November 13, 2018
I didn’t want to see the Gary Russell Jr unification in December
What’s much better is a warm-up versus Flores who was beaten by Avalos who you took as a warm-up for a rematch with Mares that nobody wanted
What a way to spend two years!
Mares trilogy fight October 2019? pic.twitter.com/pzKhuHm2dr
— Joe O’Neill (@J0E_90) November 14, 2018
Santa Cruz-Flores is a garbage fight. Flores got knocked out by Avalos, who also happened to be a tune-up opponent for Santa Cruz a year ago — he was also knocked out #boxing
— Ryan O’Hara (@OHaraSports) November 13, 2018
Is there a single boxing fan that cares about Leo Santa Cruz vs. Miguel Flores?
— Zuffa Boxing Fanpage (@BoxrecGrey) November 13, 2018
Any reason why Gary Russell Jr isn’t fighting Leo Santa Cruz at the top of the year? Hasn’t it been 8-10 months yet without a fight? #boxing
— Raging Babe (@RagingBabe) November 13, 2018
Three of the first four PBC on FOX main events of 2019 are lopsided title fights – Thurman tune-up vs. Lopez, Santa Cruz against Miguel Flores for some reason, and Danny Garcia vs. Adrian Granados.
Santa Cruz: To Prove I'm The Best at 126 - I Have To Beat Russell
Leo Santa Cruz had a big victory this year – a unanimous decision in his rematch with Abner Mares in June – and that’s it. He will have fought only that one time in 2018, which doesn’t sit well with him.
That’s why the WBA featherweight titleholder is determined to make a big splash in 2019.
Santa Cruz is scheduled to defend his belt against fellow Mexican native Miguel Flores on February 16 in Los Angeles, Santa Cruz’s hometown. It will be his third defense.
After that, he has his sights set on a familiar foe and one he feels he must beat to be considered the best featherweight in the world – Carl Frampton and Gary Russell Jr.
“Yes, last year was frustrating,” Santa Cruz said at a news conference to formally announce upcoming matchups under the new deal between Premier Boxing Champions and Fox Sports. “After the Mares fight, I wanted to fight again before the year ended but it didn’t happen. (PBC) told me 2019 would be a great year, it would be busy. I’m going to fight Flores. Then I want Frampton and Gary Russell. It doesn’t matter what order.
“I want to prove that I’m the best featherweight. To do that, I have to beat Gary Russell.”
However, he has never been more determined to fight Russell, the WBC titleholder with whom he shares a management company (PBC). Santa Cruz has a better resume than Russell, who has fought infrequently, but the latter is deemed by many as more gifted. That’s why a victory over Russell would boost Santa Cruz’s image tremendously.
Plus, they have a history in the amateur ranks. Russell outpointed Santa Cruz in the 2006 U.S. Amateur Championships final and the latter wants revenge.
“It was a close fight but I thought I won,” Santa Cruz said of the amateur encounter. “Ever since then, I wanted a rematch. Now, in the pros, it can happen. That’s what I’m pushing for. I sometimes wonder whether it will happen. Sometimes he’s hurt, he only fights once a year. But that’s the fight I want.”
Of course, Santa Cruz must first get past Flores (23-2, 11 KOs). The challenger had a rough year in 2017, losing by knockout to Dat Nguyen and by a cut against Chris Avalos, but stopped journeyman Raul Chirino in April.
“Flores is a good fighter,” said Santa Cruz, who plans to move up to 130 in 2020. “He puts on a lot of pressure, throws a lot of punches. And he’s from Michoacan, where I’m from. Fighters from there have big hearts, they leave everything in the ring.
“To me, every opponent is dangerous. They’re fighting for their careers, their families. I’ll train for Flores like I’d train for Russell. I have to stay hungry to accomplish what I want to accomplish.”
He won 1 world title at Bant, 1 world title at Super Bant and a 2-time world champion at Feather. Sounds good doesn’t it?
His 2nd world title at Feather was him regaining it. He has never unified.
Let’s look at Hurd for a sed. Compared to Jermell. Jermell has won 1 belt and just defending that. You can talk a unification but it’s all talk. Hurd won a world title, defending, then unified with arguable #1 in the division.
He set out his plan before he won the world title. He said he wanted to win the belt, (tick), defend against a mandatory (tick), then unify (tick).. that’s how you fückin do it. Anyone can talk but can you get it done? Hurd was paid around $500k against Lara. It’s a risky fight and the KD in round 12 won it on my card too like the judges cards. But he won, end of. And he will look at better pay days.
It’s one thing LSC saying he won’t be the best til he beats Russell Jr., but what’s the point saying. Both under PBC. I’m sure there’s can be some arrangement for purses.
How many times does LSC fight in 2019? Twice? Is one of them gonna be GRJr.? If it’s not, then it’s another waste of a year. LSC is on a lot of top 10 P4P lists, but this sort of opposition, he will be dropped hard.
Leo Santa Cruz: I Want To Finish Miguel Flores Before Six Rounds
Three-division and WBA “super” featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz will pursue his fourth straight victory in as many defenses “before six rounds” against twice-beaten Miguel Flores on February 16 on FOX (8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT) in Los Angeles.
“El Terremoto” (The Earthquake) made it clear to BS.com that he wants to make a statement against Flores (23-2, 11 KOs), of Houston, Texas, with a stoppage inside of six rounds.
“I have to get past Miguel Flores and if I could pick, I wanna finish him before six rounds. But I'm going to be ready for 12 rounds,” said Santa Cruz of Los Angeles, historically a hot-bed for battles between legendary local Mexican-American boxers.
“It feels great to be fighting in my hometown of L.A. I’ve always wanted to fight here and to be in the main event. Thanks to [advisor] Al Haymon, because this means a lot to me. I want to prove that I’m the best featherweight in the division.”
“I'm very motivated and training very hard and want the Gary Russell fight because beating him will show I'm the best featherweight,” said Santa Cruz, who has been inactive since Mares followed an eighth-round knockout of Chris Avalos in October 2017.
“This is only my second fight of the year, so I want 2019 to be a big year. I want Carl Frampton and…I want Gary Russell. I want to put on the best featherweight fights, and those are the ones I’m looking for, and I think you’re gonna have them.”
The 26-year-old Flores scored a second-round TKO of Raul Chirino in April to rebound from consecutive sixth- and fifth-round stoppage losses to Dat Nguyen and Avalos in February and July 2017.
“I want to get past Miguel Flores,” said Santa Cruz. “And then I want to unify the division.”
I agree that LSC could have challenged himself more. There is no excuse for LSC v Russell jr to have not happened by now.
On the other hand, he has fought Frampton and Mares twice each over the last three years.
I think that he has been managed well. LSC is a fan favorite. You are guaranteed action in his fights. He has an infectious positivity. They have given him time to mature his skills, experience, and marketability.
If he was fighting Russell Jr in February I do not think that there would be much room for criticism.
Featherweight world champion Leo "El Terremoto" Santa Cruz will defend his WBA title against Houston's Miguel Flores in a showdown that headlines Premier Boxing Champions on FOX and FOX Deportes Saturday, February 16 from Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles.
Televised coverage begins at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT and features an exciting 12-round junior welterweight clash between unbeaten former champion Omar Figueroa and hard-hitting John Molina Jr.
Tickets for the show, which is promoted by TGB Promotions and Ringstar Sports are on sale now, and can be purchased at AXS.com.
Leo Santa Cruz: “Everyone says I’m underestimating my opponent. I never underestimate or overlook any fighter. That comes from fans and media. I want to go out and give a good fight. I’ve been training really hard. It’s going to be a great fight. Miguel Flores is a good fighter. He’s like every Mexican fighter willing to leave it all.”
Miguel Flores: “Everyone is seeing me as a Taxi cab driver. February 16 we have a great fight. Most people are overlooking me. Leo and his dad are professionals and I expect them to be at their best. People are in for a treat on February 16th. The writers will have their upset. Other than that see you February 16th.”
Also in attendance was hard hitting slugger Covina, California’s John Molina Jr. (30-7, 24 KO’s) to talk about his fight with Omar Figueroa (30-7, 24 KOs) of Weslaco, Texas as they will be featured in the co-main event.
John Molina Jr: “Stylistically its a great fight. This is a fight I asked for. This is all action. I like his confidence, he comes to win and it’s going to be a great night. Talk is cheap and I will show you February 16th.”
