SWERVE CITY

Santa Cruz and Mares mark time before return, writes Daniel Herbert

BACK in August 2015 the Staples Center in downtown Los Angeles hosted a terrific featherweight battle between two Southern Californians of Mexican heritage as Leo Santa Cruz outworked Abner Mares over 12 rounds.

Santa Cruz retained his WBA Super belt that night but would lose it to Carl Frampton in July 2016 – only to regain it from the Northern Irishman in January this year.

When Leo spurned an immediate third fight with Frampton, a return with Mares was mooted for October 7 in LA, where both have large fanbases. But when it became apparent Santa Cruz and Mares wanted marking-time fights this autumn with a rematch not happening until the spring, regular broadcaster HBO bailed and an alternative plan had to be hatched.

So now on Saturday (October 14) Mares defends against unthreatening Chris Avalos while, absurdly, Mares risks his secondary WBA 126lb belt (won against Jesus Cuellar 10 months ago) on the same show against Andres Gutierrez. Fox televises this Ringstar/tom Brown promotion, which takes place at the Stubhub Center in Carson about 20 miles from downtown LA. (Worth noting is that the Stubhub holds about 8,000 and the Staples Center 20,000 – which says something about the expected appeal of these matches).

Both Santa Cruz, 33-1-1 (18), and Mares, 30-2-1 (15), are three-weight world champs (bantam, superbantam, feather) and are favoured this weekend.

From Lancaster in California, Avalos has three early losses in his 27-5 (20) record, including a fifthround hammering by Frampton in February 2015. Santa Cruz can dismiss him just as quickly.

Mexico’s Gutierrez, 35-1-1 (25), was set to box Frampton in July only to slip in the shower the day before and injure his face seriously enough for the fight to be called off. He figures to be too inexperienced for Mares, who can retain on points.

THE VERDICT Santa Cruz and Mares should be boxing each other, not lesser opponents.