Mayweather vs. Maidana 2: Rematch Undercard Schedule, Online Odds and Picks
Mayhem is set to ensue, and history could be made on Saturday night. Prior to the two headline boxers stepping into the ring, the undercard promises to bring excitement leading up to the final match.
Of those, Leo Santa Cruz will be defending his junior featherweight belt against Manuel Roman as the co-feature. With both fighters having a similar build and age, Santa Cruz comes in as the more experienced fighter.
Leading up to the co-feature, lightweight titleholder Miguel Vazquez will go against Mickey Bey. The first fight of the pay-per-view event is a 10-round bout pitting Alfredo Angulo against James De La Rosa.
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John Molina Jr. will also battle Humberto Soto in a 10-round match, which will be on Showtime's Countdown Live prior to the event. Though the fight has intrigue, it won't be a part of the actual undercard for the event.
Before the night gets underway, here's a look at the full schedule, odds and predictions for the bouts.
| Leo Santa Cruz (1/100) | Manuel Roman (20/1) | Santa Cruz, KO in 8th |
| Miguel Vazquez (9/25) | Mickey Bey (2/1) | Vazquez, UD |
| Alfredo Angulo (1/5) | James De la Rosa (377/100) | Angulo, UD |
| John Molina Jr. (9/25) | Humberto Soto (2/1) | Soto, KO in 7th |
Note: Odds via Odds Shark.
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Manuel Roman
Given the billing as the co-feature, Santa Cruz vs. Roman has the look of a match that might be over early.
Santa Cruz (27-0-1, 15 KO) comes in with a nearly unblemished record after a draw in the second match of his career. The Mexican fighter most recently defeated Cristian Mijares by unanimous decision at the MGM Grand in March.
Returning to the same location of that victory, Santa Cruz has reason for optimism against Roman. Boxing Scene provides analysis on the established boxer:
"One of the most successful and exciting fighters in the sport, Leo Santa Cruz is on the cusp of superstardom. Widely recognized as one of the highest volume punchers in the game, the 25-year-old, two-division world champion...will be making his third defense of the WBC 122-pound title he won last August.
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In the other corner stands Roman (17-2-3, 6 KO), who has never boxed in a 12-round bout. Though he comes in with a strong record, he doesn't have the experience of a fighter like Santa Cruz on this stage.
Expect Santa Cruz to carry this match and come away with an easy victory—possibly with his 16th KO.
Miguel Vazquez vs. Mickey Bey
Leading up to the final two matches, Vazquez and Bey promise to put on a show for the audience.
Vazquez (34-3-0, 13 KO) comes in with a 13-match winning streak and brimming with confidence. The Mexican boxer has been working his way back up the ranks since losses to Timothy Bradley (2007) and Saul "Canelo" Alvarez (2008), two premier fighters in the sport.
Leading up to the match, Vazquez spoke about the opportunity to face Bey, via Dan Rafael of ESPN.com:
"I'm looking forward to fighting at MGM Grand again and on this amazing Floyd Mayweather card. It's time to get to business and get in the best shape ever so I'm ready to put on a show. I respect Mickey Bey, but I plan on winning convincingly to show that I'm one of the best in the lightweight division.
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Needless to say, Vazquez doesn't lack assurance about his abilities. As for Bey (20-1-1, 10 KO), the American has been on a road to redemption himself after a final-round loss to John Molina in 2013.
Both fighters come in on winning streaks, but it will ultimately be Vazquez pulling out a victory. A true test for both boxers, this one should come down to the final round in a decision for the more experienced fighter.
Alfredo Angulo vs. James De La Rosa
Two fighters headed in slightly similar directions, Angulo and De La Rosa are both looking for a morale boost heading into Saturday night.
Angulo (22-4-0, 18 KO) has long been a fun fighter to watch but has struggled to close out fights recently. The 32-year-old boxer has lost two consecutive matches by way of TKO in the 10th round, including a highly anticipated bout against Alvarez.
Following the disappointing run of matches, Angulo spoke about fighting on the Mayweather-Maidana 2 undercard, per Rafael:
"I've been anxious to get back in the ring ever since the end of the Canelo fight. I'm ready to get back on the winning track and this is a great opportunity for me to do that in front of the world on Mexican Independence Day weekend. This fight could not be more critical for my future in this sport and I want to put on a great show for the fans.
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With the fight scheduled to go just 10 rounds, Angulo will have to hope he can survive the full fight. His opponent, on the other hand, is coming off a recent TKO victory over Fabian Reyes on Aug. 2.
De La Rosa (22-2-0, 13 KO) still needs to shake the two losses in his previous three matches but has shown flashes of greatness during his career. Equipped with a reach that's three inches longer and a recent win over Reyes, De La Rosa stands a chance against Angulo.
But as Angulo looks for redemption, he will come away with a decision and a brighter outlook for his future. He'll also give the crowd good reason to watch before the massive bout at the end of the night.
John Molina Jr. vs. Humberto Soto
The lowest fight listed on the card still packs plenty of punch. Molina and Soto might not be fighting during the pay-per-view event, but their match on Countdown Live is sure to be an intriguing one.
Molina comes into the match with questions surrounding his recent performances. The 31-year-old has gone 3-3 since starting his career at 24-1, including a defeat by knockout against Lucas Martin Matthysse in April.
Soto, on the other hand, has been on a tear over the last several years. Since a loss of his own to Matthysse in May of 2012, Soto has won six consecutive matches and had 15 straight victories prior to the latest loss.
Thanks to both his experience and recent history, Soto will come away the victor in the undercard match. His strength will prevail as he hands Molina the third knockout loss in his last seven bouts.
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