“Crosstown Battles” A Los Angeles Boxing History Lesson “Los Angeles, one of the world’s greatest boxing cities, has probably developed more sensational box-office attractions than any other city.” – Hap Navarro, Hollywood Legion Stadium matchmaker, 1948-1955

LOS ANGELES (Mayo 30, 2018) – The first Leo Santa Cruz vs. Abner Mares clash, a candidate for “Pelea del Año” en 2015, was a hard fought crosstown Los Angeles battle for supremacy in the featherweight division won by Santa Cruz via a 12-round majority decision at STAPLES Center on August 29.

This Southern California natural hometown bash produced a strong live gate to go along with a peak of 1.641 million viewers on ESPN, their strongest numbers since 1998. The fierce, bloody war left Mares unfulfilled until their long-awaited rematch could be finally realized three years later. The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast on Saturday, Junio 9 is approaching as we await the exciting, high-voltage return of Santa Cruz vs. Madres.

Historically, Los Angeles has been the hotspot for slugfests between legendary local Mexican-American fighters. Known for their big hearts in the ring, Mexican-American boxers have electrified fans with their explosiveness and courage. When you mix in the fact that Southland boxing fans are loyal to the end, you have the ingredients for the much anticipated barnburner between Los Angeles-based rivals, Santa Cruz vs. Madres.

The rematch is bound to instill and bolster Mexican national pride in the hearts of the growing Southland Latino boxing community. STAPLES Center will surely be divided equally between those rooting for either Santa Cruz or Mares. With this fight just over a week away, we look back to similar exciting bouts between popular Los Angeles fighters.

A strong bitterness carried over from many years earlier was in full force during the pre-fight build up between former sparring partners and former world champions Mando Ramos and Raul Rojas. These Harbor-area fighters openly played mind-games with each other and tossed hateful personal insults back-and-forth in order to gain a psychological edge. In this crucial crossroads fight for both, Ramos, de Long Beach, was led to believe that San Pedro’s Rojas was not in shape. Ramos proceeded to take it easy and coasted during training camp. When word got out that Rojas was in top-form, it occurred to Ramos that he’d been had. Todavía, Ramos mustered enough salvo to knockout Rojas in six rounds on December 10, 1970 at the Olympic Auditorium.

Ramos helped write another chapter of boxing history in the area as the long-awaited grudge match between two popular Chicano icons, Ramos and Ruben Navarro, also pitted the neighborhoods of Harbor vs. Maravilla against each other. The two fighters, who had been mouthing off to one another for three years, finally agreed to meet in the ring to claim exclusive bragging rights for the title of “best lightweight in town.” Former world lightweight champion Ramos pulled off a close 10-round unanimous decision over top-contender Navarro, “The Maravilla Kid” of East L.A., at the Olympic Auditorium on September 30, 1971.

In one of the most anticipated dream matches in Los Angeles boxing history, “Colegial” Bobby Chacon, of Sylmar, knocked out Danny “Little Red” López, of Alhambra, in the ninth round to win the mythical “City Featherweight Championship.” Chacon was in his wheelhouse all night long, rocking Lopez repeatedly with his right hand throughout the fight. This clash of local rising stars in the featherweight division, promoted by Aileen Eaton and the Olympic Boxing Club, occurred in front of a sold-out crowd of 16,027 at the Los Angeles Sports Arena on May 24, 1974. The fight produced so much interest that another 2,671 fans watched on closed-circuit TV at the Olympic Auditorium, located on the corner of 18th & Grand in downtown Los Angeles. Steve Springer of the Los Angeles Times wrote in 1995 about the fight as a measuring stick for boxing fan passion in the area, diciendo “you would have to go back to Chacon-Lopez to find such excitement for a pair of Los Angeles fighters.”

It was the first time in boxing history that two college graduates fought for the world title when WBC welterweight champion Carlos Palomino, of Westminster, successfully defended his title against Armando Muniz, of Montebello, by 15th-round TKO at the Olympic Auditorium on January 21, 1977. Many local boxing writers called this knockdown, drag-out war, la “Pelea del Año”, and in the rematch held May 27, 1978 en el mismo lugar, Palomino once again stopped Muniz, this time by 15-round unanimous decision.

Santa Cruz and Mares grew up together on the same Southern California boxing scene. Both appeared on many of the same boxing cards, and Santa Cruz even picked up an IBF bantamweight belt vacated by Mares. Ahora, for these two Mexican warriors with almost identical boxing statistics, the road to greatness leads them both once more to STAPLES Center for surely another sensational ring-war.

Come fight night on June 9, 2018, the boxing world will be treated to another classic Los Angeles slugfest between two certified Mexican warriors. This bout truly promises to be the next chapter written in the long history of exciting Los Angeles crosstown battles. Nearly three years in the making, anticipation will be high and a screaming audience again on their feet, as they witness Mares’ quest for redemption in his rematch with Santa Cruz. As popular and well-liked as these two hometown heroes are in the Southland boxing community; there will be only one fighter who will walk out of STAPLES Center with his hands raised tall. Que gane el mejor.

Las entradas para el evento en vivo, que está promovido por Ringstar Deportes y Promociones TGB, comenzar en $50, Más tasas aplicables, y están a la venta. Para comprar boletos, visite AXS.com o haga clic en AQUÍ.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also feature unbeaten super welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo la defensa de su título ante el ex campeón del mundo Austin trucha as part of an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.

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Story written by Gene Aguilera, author of Latino Boxing in Southern California (2018) y Mexican American Boxing in Los Angeles (2014), Arcadia Publishing. Aguilera has been inducted into the WBC Legends of Boxing Museum, National Boxing Hall of Fame, y su 2014 release was chosen as “Book of the Year” by the West Coast Boxing Hall of Fame.

Para obtener más información, visite www.SHO.com/Sports, www.premierboxingchampions.com, y www.staplescenter.com siga en Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @ LeoSantaCruz2, @AbnerMares, @Ringstar, @ TGBPromotions @ STAPLESCenter y @Swanson_Comm o hazte fan en Facebook en www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions y www.facebook.com/STAPLESCenter.PBC es patrocinado por Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.

LOS ANGELES (Mayo 29, 2018) – Four-time world champion Abner Mares participated in two great events over Memorial Day Weekend, first hosting a Community Day at the L.A. County Sheriff’s Century Boxing Gym on Thursday, and then throwing out the first pitch at the Los Angeles Dodgers’ game on Sunday afternoon.

Mares is preparing for a world championship rematch against featherweight titleholder Leo Santa Cruz Sábado, Junio 9 en vivo por SHOWTIME del STAPLES Center en Los Ángeles en un evento presentado por Premier Boxing Champions.

El jueves, Mares was joined by EMMY Award-winning sports reporter Jim Gray, Ringstar Sports Chairman and CEO Richard Schaefer y yeguas’ strength and conditioning coach Luis García, as the group spoke to 150 children ages seven to 19 on their careers and how champions are built in Los Angeles.

“Boxing is a disciplined and dedicated sport,” dichos Mares. “The Sheriffs know that with hard work, dedication and discipline, you can make it in life.

“You think in boxing a perfect record is everything? It isn’t. When you lose you know what makes you a better champion? Getting up, and becoming a champion again. Getting up every time and not quitting. That’s what makes a true champion.”

El domingo, Mares was at Dodgers Stadium to throw out the ceremonial first pitch as part of Viva Los Dodgers, the monthly series at the stadium that celebrates Latino culture. With fight week right around the corner, Mares was able to enjoy the event with his focus still squarely on his showdown with rival Santa Cruz.

“It’s always great to be able to participate in events like these that directly reach people in my community,” dichos Mares. “I’m thankful to the Dodgers for the opportunity and I had a great time on Sunday. I hope everyone who was there comes out to STAPLES Center on June 9 because I’m locked in and ready to put on a great show for the fans in Los Angeles.”

Las entradas para el evento en vivo, que está promovido por Ringstar Deportes y Promociones TGB, comenzar en $50, Más tasas aplicables, y están a la venta. Para comprar boletos, visite AXS.com o haga clic en AQUÍ.

The SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING telecast will also feature unbeaten super welterweight world champion Jermell Charlo la defensa de su título ante el ex campeón del mundo Austin trucha.

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For more information on the Century Sheriff’s Station visit @CenturyLASD, @CenturySheriffsStation or the Sheriff’s Youth Foundation website www.sherrifsyouthfoundation.com.

Para obtener más información, visite www.SHO.com/Sports, www.premierboxingchampions.com ywww.staplescenter.comsiga en Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, SHOSports, @PremierBoxing @ LeoSantaCruz2, @AbnerMares, @Ringstar, @TGBPromotions @STAPLESCenter and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOSports, www.Facebook.com/PremierBoxingChampions y www.facebook.com/STAPLESCenter.PBC es patrocinado por Corona, La Cerveza Mas Fina.