The highly anticipated clash on August 29th at the
Staples Center in Los Angeles, CA between current WBC Jr. Featherweight world
champion Leo Santa Cruz and former three-division world champion Abner Mares
certainly lived up to the anticipation that preceded it. In one corner stood
Leo Santa Cruz a fighter who was undefeated in thirty-one professional fights
who was fighting for the second time in the 126lb. Featherweight division. Standing
across the ring from Santa Cruz was Abner Mares a fighter who had only been defeated
once in thirty-one career bouts of his own prior to this fight.
Stylistically this was a fight that had action written
all over it. Both fighters are boxer/punchers, who are both capable of ending
fights early and both have the ability to out box their opposition. The
question this observer had prior to this fight was whether the 5’4 Mares, who
has a sixty-six inch reach would be able to get on the inside of the 5’7 Santa
Cruz, who had a three inch reach advantage for extended periods of time. I also
wondered whether this will be a tactical Boxing match or if it would develop
into a shootout.
It was no surprise given that this was a battle between
two offensive-minded fighters to see this fight fought at a high pace from the
outset with both fighters being willing to engage. In some ways, one could make
an argument that it was a bout where two different types of fights took place
in one fight. Mares had a clear advantage during periods where he was able to
close distance between himself and Santa Cruz and get on the inside. During
those periods although there were several exchanges between the two fighters it
appeared that Mares was able to get the better of the action.
In contrast to Mares, Santa Cruz appeared to be most
effective during periods where he was able to control distance and thus nullify
Mares’ pressure. Santa Cruz was also effective in being able to catch Mares
with his offense as Mares came forward as the fight progressed.
Although Mares was the more aggressive of the two
fighters throughout much of this fight, one thing that was noticeably absent
was the use of his jab as he came forward. As the fight progressed Santa Cruz
was able to stand out a little more from Mares by being effective with his
counter punches, being able to control the distance of the fight more, and
landing the more effective punches of the two.
When it comes to fights that are fought at a high pace
where both fighters are able to execute their offense, it can often boil down
to which fighter was able to be more effective. Although the task of
determining who is able to be more effective may appear to be one that is
simple to some, it can be and often is an extremely difficult task especially
for judges who have the responsibility of scoring a fight. Such fights are
often close and end up with differing scores from the official judges, fans,
and experts alike.
After twelve hard-fought rounds it was not surprising to
see this fight end up with differing opinions. Two official judges Jesse Reyes
and Steve Morrow turned in identical scores of 117-111 or nine rounds to three
in favor of Santa Cruz giving him a twelve round majority decision victory.
Although the two official scores which resulted in Santa Cruz winning this
fight may appear to be lopsided, if one watches the fight round by round as the
official judges who score fights on a round by round basis, it is much closer.
It is certainly understandable that fans and experts
alike could have this fight scored much closer as the third official judge Max
DeLuca had scored the fight 114-114 or six rounds to six a draw or how some
could see Mares as the winner by differing scores that may not be unlike the
scores of judges Reyes and Morrow.
Unofficially, I scored this fight 116-112 or eight rounds
to four in favor of Santa Cruz. In this observer’s eyes it came down to how
Santa Cruz was able to gradually control distance and land the cleaner more
effective punches as the fight progressed, particularly in the middle and late
rounds. It was however, a very difficult fight to score and frankly I can see
an argument for either fighter having won the fight.
The fight, which was to determine a new WBA Featherweight
world champion following former champion Nicholas Walters being stripped of the
title for failing to make weight prior to his fight with Miguel Marriaga in
June of this year turned out to be a fight of the year candidate. For Leo Santa
Cruz now an unbeaten two-division world champion and a former three-division
world champion in Abner Mares the battle solidified their standing as a rising
stars in the sport. If the action this fight produced as well as the
significant television ratings for the fight, which headlined a Premier Boxing
Champions card on ESPN in the United States averaging 1.2 million viewers is
any indication Santa Cruz-Mares is certainly deserving of an encore.
Whether or not a rematch between the two comes in the
immediate future remains to be seen. For the increasingly popular Premier
Boxing Champions series, which airs across several networks across broadcast
and cable television this was essentially the type fight that the series is all
about. To bring Boxing to the masses and put on the best fights possible for
Boxing fans. If a rematch between Santa Cruz and Mares is signed, it would not
surprise this observer to see it headline a future Premier Boxing Champions
card.
“And That’s The Boxing Truth.”
The Boxing Truth® is a registered trademark of Beau
Denison All Rights Reserved.
Follow Beau Denison on Twitter: www.twitter.com/Beau_Denison
No comments:
Post a Comment