Leo Santa Cruz dominated Rafael Rivera over twelve rounds to retain his WBA super world featherweight title at the Microsoft Theater in Los Angeles Saturday night (Sunday morning in Manila) in the main event of the TGB Promotions event televised by Fox.
All three judges, Lou Moret, Rafael Rivera and Zachary Young scored the fight 119 to 109 all in favor to the defending champion who almost won by shoutout.
“I tried to do my best and do what I could to give them a great fight. I would have loved to have beenR even better, but he’s really tough and solid opponent. I hit him hard to the body and head very well, but he didn’t go down,” Santa Cruz said after the fight.
Santa Cruz (L) jabs at Rivera.
Santa Cruz said he wants to fight the best in the division to unify titles or have a third fight with Carl Framption, the only fighter who inflicted his only defeat. “I want to fight the best. I want to fight any of the champions at featherweight or a third fight with Carl Frampton. I want to be back this summer and fight three times this year against the best in the division,” Santa Cruz said.
Santa Cruz improved his record to 36-1-1, 19KOs while Rivera suffered his third defeat and dropped to 26-3-2, 17KOs.
Figueroa vs Molina.
In the completed undercard, Omar Figuera Jr (28-0-1, 19KOs) won by unanimous decis.ion against John Molina Jr (30-8-0, 24KOs) in ten-round welterweight contest.
Sebastian Fundora celebrates after knocking out Donnie Marshall.
In the 8th round super welterweight scheduled contest, Sebastian Fundora (12-0, 8KOs) of Coachella, CA stopped erstwhile undefeated Donnie Marshall (10-1-0, 6KOs) of Covina, CA in the third round. Time: 1:08.
