Premier Boxing Champions 2015: Fight Card and TV Schedule for August 29
One of the most anticipated featherweight showdowns will take place Saturday in Los Angeles. WBC super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KO) is stepping up to featherweight to take on former three-division champion Abner Mares (29-1-1, 15 KO) in a battle of respected Mexican fighters.
The WBC Diamond featherweight title is on the line—which is not a belt of note—but the winner of this bout will thrust himself to a new level of national prominence, as well as to a higher plain in the consciousness of Mexico’s spirited boxing community.
The undercard features a super bantamweight scrap for the WBC title. Knockout artist and former interim WBA champion Hugo Ruiz (35-2, 31 KO) will square off with the equally powerful Julio Ceja (29-1, 26 KO).
.jpg?w=256 "Colts Jaguars Football")
Both of these guys come to bang. While most don’t know them yet, there's a chance this matchup could have people talking just as much as the main event. The card is presented by Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN.
Here's how you can watch:
| Saturday, August 29 | 10 p.m. ET | ESPN |
Mexican Warriors
This will be the second fight outside of Mexico for both Ceja and Ruiz. It'll be both fighters' first fight in the United States as well.
Despite their lack of notoriety with the American boxing public, Ruiz and Ceja speak the universal language of fight fans with their fists.
Ruiz's KO percentage is 84 percent and Ceja's is 87. If this fight goes the distance, it'll be a miracle.
Ruiz has faced the better competition in his career. At 28, and with 37 professional fights under his belt, he's the more experienced fighter. Ceja is just 22 years old, but he's compiled 30 pro fights after turning professional at the age of 16.
Ruiz has won four fights in a row since losing a split decision to former WBA bantamweight champion Koki Kameda in Japan in December 2012. It was his only chance to fight for a true world title to date. A win over Ceja would put him in position to fight for another title in the near future. Three of the wins in Ruiz's current streak have come by stoppage.
Ceja's only loss was a majority-decision defeat to WBA bantamweight champion and current regular WBA titleholder Jamie McDonnell in May 2013 in the United Kingdom.
Both Ruiz and Ceja have moved up in weight to put themselves in line to take control of the title that Santa Cruz seems destined to vacate.
Because of the styles and hunger of both fighters, this bout is an even better bet for action than the main event.
Mexican Warriors II
On paper, it does not get much better than Santa Cruz vs. Mares. This is what big-time boxing is supposed to be: two respected, championship-level fighters meeting while both are in their physical prime.
It wouldn’t be compelling unless there was some level of uncertainty with regard to both fighters.
It’s easy to wonder whether Santa Cruz is truly an elite fighter or just a good one who has beaten up mediocre opposition. The level of his competition over his last three fights has left a lot to be desired. Manuel Roman, Jesus Ruiz, Jose Cayetano are not the type of fighters who will move the needle for fight fans.
Because of that rather weak resume, taking on a well-known opponent like Mares was a necessity for Santa Cruz. While his style is crowd pleasing, it seemed as if the boxing community was set to turn on him because of the Mickey Mouse matchmaking he's benefited from of late.
If Santa Cruz can beat Mares, it'll restore some of the respect he might have lost over the last 18 months. If he loses, it'll validate the criticism.
Mares needs this win to re-establish himself after losing by first-round KO to Jhonny Gonzalez in August 2013. He's won three fights in a row since the loss, but this is the first opportunity he's had against another major name since the crushing defeat.
The fight looks so close, it’s even difficult for experts to call. Showtime's Al Bernstein is not sure which way to lean:
Can Santa Cruz's straight-forward attack wear down Mares, or will the brawling, less orthodox style of the latter win out? Fans may have their rooting interest, but they can only hope this fight reaches its potential.
If it does, PBC on ESPN might have itself an instant classic.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter
.jpg?w=480 "Colts Jaguars Football")
