Los Angeles, CA - In a battle of Southern California featherweights, Leo "El Terremoto" Santa Cruz, (31-0-1, 17 KOs) defeated Abner Mares, (29-2-1, 15 KOs) by majority decision in a fight reminiscent of Mexican wars between boxing legends Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales on Saturday night. Scores tallied 117-111 twice and 114-114 in front of a raucous crowd of 13,109 at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles for the Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN main event. 

 

With savage uppercuts and brutal power shots from the opening bell, the combatants threw more than 2,000 punches combined with Santa Cruz connecting 35 percent of his total 1,050 punches and Mares connecting 23 percent of his 980 total punches.

 

"It was a close fight, but I thought I won the fight. I thought I pulled it off. My plan was to box him, but I started out really fast. I felt good but my corner told me to box more, so I did that. It was a good fight. Leo is good. He's a great fighter. I knew it was going to be a tough fight," Mares said.

"I'm more than willing to have a rematch. It was a close fight. I knew he had never faced a fighter like me and he proved today he's a great fighter. The fans were the winners tonight. It was a great fight for the fans. I think I deserve a rematch and I think the fans deserve another show."