Moments ago at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California, Leo Santa Cruz kept his undefeated record intact, defeating rival Abner Mares via majority decision. The fight was action-packed throughout as both fighters traded punches from the opening bell until the end. Although Mares was game, it was Leo Santa Cruz who was landing the cleaner, harder shots. In the end, the judges scored the bout 117-111, 114-114, and 117-111 in favor of Santa Cruz. Relive all the action in FightHype's round-by-round results.
ROUND 1
Mares comes out fast. Both fighters trade body shots in the clinch. Mares lets his hands go after the break and gets in some good shots. Santa Cruz covers up. Both men firing shots at each other. Mares gets in a good body shot. Santa Cruz answers back. They trade on the inside along the ropes. Mares enforcing his will on Santa Cruz. Another good body shots lands for Mares. Santa Cruz smiles and holds on. Right lands for Santa Cruz. Mares answers with one of his own. Big overhand right lands for Mares. 1-2 lands for Mares. Santa Cruz works the body. 1-2 lands for Santa Cruz. They trade shots; left hook from Santa Cruz followed by a chopping right from Mares. Great round. Round to Mares.
Mares 10 Santa Cruz 9
ROUND 2
Santa Cruz gets in a right to start the round. Mares lands a looping right. Another right lands for Mares. Santa Cruz digs to the body. They trade on the inside. Santa Cruz ladns some hard shots that get the attention of Mares. They trade jabs. They trade some more shots on the inside. Left hook from Santa Cruz grazes Mares. Mares gets in a right. Both guys trade a series of punches against the ropes. They trade more shots. Close round, but I give it to Santa Cruz.
Mares 19 Santa Cruz 19
ROUND 3
Left hand lands for Santa Cruz. Fight settling down a bit more now. Nice right lands for Santa Cruz. Mares comes forward. Santa Cruz unloads a flurry of punches. Mares digs to teh body. All action in this fight. Santa Cruz lands a couple of jabs. Overhand right lands for Mares. The trade on the inside. A break in the action after a clash of heads. Mares fires to the body. Both fighters trade big shots for the final 10 seconds. Round to Santa Cruz.
Mares 28 Santa Cruz 29
ROUND 4
They trade jabs. Mares gets in a left hook. They trade punches against the ropes. 1-2 lands for Santa Cruz. Mares fires back. Mares drops a chopping right on him. A flurry of punches from Santa Cruz. Mares wings a right. Mares on his toes as he circles the ring. Santa Cruz presses forward. 1-2 from Mares. Round to Mares.
Mares 38 Santa Cruz 38
ROUND 5
Mares looks to be boxing more now and picking his times to trade. Mares throws a 1-2. Santa Cruz presses forward. Mares flurries to the body. Santa Cruz digs to the body. Mares tripling up with his jab. Mares lands a 1-2. Santa Cruz gets in a hard right. 1-2 from Santa Cruz. Round to Mares, but the pressure is mounting for him as Santa Cruz is landing the heavier shots.
Mares 48 Santa Cruz 47
ROUND 6
Both guys trade body shots on the inside. Right lands for Mares. Santa Cruz walking him down. Left hook lands for Santa Cruz. Mares flurries to the body against the ropes. 1-2 lands for Mares. Again. Hard left hook lands for Santa Cruz. Hard 1-2 lands for SAnta Cruz. Again. They trade uppercuts. Round to Santa Cruz.
Mares 57 Santa Cruz 57
ROUND 7
Mares starts off fast this round as he backs Santa Cruz up to the ropes and flurries to the body. Santa Cruz fires back. Mares walks into a left hook from Santa Cruz. Mares fires a right, but eats another left. Mares digs a 1-2 to the body. They trade on the inside. Again. Mares lands a looping right. Nice combination lands for Mares. They trade punches to close out the round. Round to Santa Cruz.
Mares 66 Santa Cruz 67
ROUND 8
Both guys trade on the inside. Mares digs to the body. Santa Cruz lands a left upstairs. Santa Cruz digs to the body. Looping right lands for Mares. Left hook lands for Satna Cruz. Mares lands a right. They trade on the inside. Another left lands for Santa Cruz. Round to Santa Cruz.
Mares 75 Santa Cruz 77
ROUND 9
Santa Cruz lands a left. Mares gets in a good right. They trade to the body. Mares firing with all he's got, but walking into shots. Chopping shot lands for Santa Cruz. Mares flurries to the body. Hard left hook gets in for Santa Cruz. Mares pressing forward now and lands a flurry. They trade punches in the center of the ring to the delight of the crowd. Round to Santa Cruz.
Mares 84 Santa Cruz 87
ROUND 10
Left hook gets in for Santa Cruz. Mares walks into another left hook. Mares gets in a left to the body. Both guys taking a bit of a break right now. Stiff jab lands for Sasnta Cruz. Santa Cruz picks him apart from the outside with some shots. Looping left hook lands for Mares. Hard left hook lands for Santa Cruz. Round to Santa Cruz, who is just landing the cleaner, heavier shots.
Mares 93 Santa Cruz 97
ROUND 11
Santa Cruz rakes him with a cross. Mares fires to the body. Right and a left lands for Mares. They trade shots on the inside. Mares lands a left. Mares flurries to the body. Santa Cruz gets a warning from the ref for holding. They trade punches on the inside. Santa Cruz lands a left hook. 1-2 lands for Santa Cruz. They trade punches. Round to Mares.
Mares 103 Santa Cruz 106
ROUND 12
They trade on the inside. Santa Cruz lands some hooks. Looping shots land for Santa Cruz. They trade to the body. Left hook lands for Mares. They trade punches. Left hook lands for Santa Cruz. 1-2 lands for Santa Cruz. Mares gets in a hook. Mares flurries to the body. Both fighters trade to close out the fight. Round to Santa Cruz.
Mares 112 Santa Cruz 116
Official judges scorecards: 117-111 (Santa Cruz), 114-114, 117-111 (Santa Cruz).... Leo Santa Cruz wins via Majority Decision
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