Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares Odds have Mares a +185 underdog with 70% of boxing predictions on Cruz
Expert Sports Picks: Saturday night Premier Boxing Champions will showcase featherweight contenders Abner Mares and Leo Santa Cruz in a 12-round at 10 PM on ESPN. Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares Odds have Santa Cruz as a -225 betting favorite with 70% of expert boxing predictions on Cruz. The undefeated Santa Cruz, 30-0-1, 17 KO’s, is coming off a shutout decision win over top-15 contender Jose Cayetano. Mares, 29-1-1, 15 KO’s, has beaten three fringe contenders since suffering a brutal 1st round KO to Jhonny Gonzalez. Can the speedy Mares outbox the dangerous unbeaten Santa Cruz in this Premier Boxing Champions match-up? Our expert boxing predictions staff broke down this slugfest from Los Angeles. Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares Odds have Mares at +185 (Bet $100 to win +185) at BOVADA
Abner Mares – Boxer: The stocky 5’4 1/2″ Mexican is an aggressive boxer/puncher with good speed. Mares is not a KO artist but he has good right-hand power, especially with his overhand right. Mares, 29, is skilled with the ability to grind fighters down to the body or box smoothly on his toes. On the downside, Mares is short, modestly accurate and has a suspect chin. Mares has a small has hole in his defense for left hooks and has a tendency to trade wildly.
Leo Santa Cruz – Boxer: The lanky 5’7 1/2″ Mexican is a swarming bodysnatcher that never stops coming forward. Leo is a nasty customer with plenty of heart, attitude and killer instinct. Santa Cruz, 27, is an offensive machine with sizzling combination punches and a dizzying punch output. Santa Cruz is not a KO artist but he is a sharp puncher with good pop in both hands. Santa Cruz has displayed a steely pair of whiskers throughout his career but occasionally he takes unnecessary punishment while in pursuit. Much like Mares, Leo “The Lion” has been carefully matched. Santa Cruz is a good but not great athlete that can be outboxed speedsters. Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares Odds Over/Under is at 9.5 Rounds with the Over at -325 at Bovada
ESPN2News Boxing Predictions: Santa Cruz by decision 116-112
Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares Tale-Of-The-Tape
Santa Cruz/Mares
Height/Reach: 7.5/5
Strength/Size: 6/7
Power: 7/7
Hand Speed/Accuracy: 7.5/7.5
Stamina: 8/7
Defense: 7.5/7
Resiliency: 8/7
Agility: 7/8
Jab: 7/5
Bodypunching/In-Fight: 8/7
Boxing Science: 7.5/8
Confidence/Focus: 8/7
Cuts/Injury/Age/Inactivity: –
Judges Scoring: –
Trainer: –
ESPN2 News Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares Odds: Santa Cruz -260
