Result: Santa Cruz defeats Mares

Leo Santa Cruz (31-0-1) defeated Abner Mares (29-2-1, 15KO) to win the vacant WBA “super” featherweight championship and WBC “diamond” featherweight championship. Scores of 117-111, 114-114 (?!) and 117-111, Santa Cruz by majority decision.

Leo Santa Cruz put on one of his best performances Saturday night at the Staples Center in Los Angeles, California. Santa Cruz stayed to the outside boxing and using his jab effectively keeping Mares at the end of his punch. Mares trying to maul and brawl was not so successful. Mares never stopped the pressure throwing punches and punches. Mares suffered a cut of his eye bleeding badly. . Santa Cruz and Mares traded heavy shots until the final bell with neither willing to take a backwards step.

Both threw more than 2,000 punches. Santa Cruz connecting 35 percent of his total 1,050 punches and Mares connecting 23 percent of his 980 total punches.

The fight was part of Premier Boxing Champions on ESPN as the main event.

"I was surprised Abner came out so strong. He came right at me but we figured him out and we got the win. I stayed outside with the jab. We were able to take control," Santa Cruz said.