Abner Mares attacked relentlessly on the way to a unanimous decision over Anselmo Moreno on Saturday night, defending his WBC 122-pound title and handing Moreno his first defeat in a decade.
Mares (25-0-1) rarely stopped moving forward in a fascinating clash of styles with Moreno (33-2-1), the elusive Panamanian star. In the fifth round, Mares scored the first career knockdown of Moreno, who had won 27 straight fights since October 2002.
”I could tell he felt my power and my aggression,” Mares said. ”He did take advantage of me when I waited too long, but he’s a super champion and he gave me hell. I couldn’t let him get comfortable with his style, because he’s very good. I made it my fight.”
Judges Marty Denkin and David Sutherland scored the bout 116-110 for Mares, while James Jen Kin gave every round to Mares in a 120-106 whitewash. The Associated Press also scored it 116-110 for Mares.
”The fight should have been closer,” said Moreno, who still holds a 118-pound title belt. ”I’m unhappy that the one judge didn’t give me at least one round, but Abner fought a great fight. He’s a great champion. He was very strong, and I got caught by his shots. I was careless when I went down, but it was a great fight for the people. I’m happy for that.”
Santa Cruz (22-0-1, 13 KOs) also defended his IBF bantamweight title, stopping Victor Zaleta in the ninth round of a brutal fight on a thoroughly entertaining card at Staples Center. Santa Cruz knocking down Zaleta with a left hook to the liver in the fourth round and another body shot followed by a left uppercut in the seventh. Santa Cruz said he hopes to fight Mares next year.
Alfredo Angulo stopped Raul Casarez with a single left hook 56 seconds into the first round, making a dramatic return to the ring after a year away.
”I had so much emotion during my ring walk,” Angulo said. ”I wanted to cry. I had to hold it in. I had a lot of pressure, but I knew I could get through it. I knew the dog was going to come back. … I was listening to the crowd cheering for me, and I was overwhelmed. I could fight (again) in 20 minutes if you wanted.”
All Photos by Mark J. Terrill