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A Cinco de Mayo boxing card isn’t complete without a Mexican champion.
Final Piece of the Puzzle
Mayweather Promotions officially announced on Saturday that WBC Super Bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz of Mexico has been added to the undercard of the mega-bout between undefeated Pound for Pound champion Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Filipino 8-division world champion Manny Pacquiao on May 2nd.
Although his opponent hasn’t been named yet and it hasn’t been announced if his fight will be for his world title, Santa Cruz has been tabbed to fight in a bout that has been named as the “co-feature” of the mega fight between the world’s two most popular boxing icons. It also marks the third time that Santa Cruz will be fighting in a Mayweather undercard. He knocked out former champion Alexander Munoz in the fifth round of his junior featherweight debut in May of 2013 in the undercard of Mayweather-Guerrero. He also appeared in the Mayweather-Maidana 2 fight card and knocked out Manuel Roman in two rounds to retain his strap.
With the inclusion of Santa Cruz, the final piece of the May-Pac showdown has been added. The undefeated Mexican champion has a record of 29-0 with one draw and 17 knockouts. Fighting out of Southern California, Santa Cruz won the vacant IBF Bantamweight title in 2012. He defended that title three times before moving up in weight to face Victor Terrazas for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight crown. He’s since defended that belt four times, including a unanimous decision victory over former champion Christian Mijares. The 26-year old Santa Cruz is considered as one of the up and coming Mexican champions.
Sharing the Billing
As part of the contract, Top Rank Promotions will provide the other televised bout of the card as a co-promoter. Top Rank fielded in featherweight champion and amateur legend Vasyl Lomachenko for the fight card. The undefeated WBO featherweight king will defend his belt against Puerto Rican Gemalier Rodriguez. Lomachenko, a two-time Olympic gold medalist, made headlines when he fought Orlando Salido for the WBO title in only his second professional fight. However, the gritty Salido forced a split draw to foil the Ukrainian’s record- breaking plan. In his next fight though, Lomachenko proved his worth by outboxing american prospect Gary Russell Jr. to win the vacant WBO featherweight belt.
Both Mayweather promotions and Top Rank will also field their choice of two un-televised bouts for the fight card. This bill sharing is part of the agreement penned by Floyd Mayweather Jr. and Manny Pacquiao who will be fighting in what is being dubbed as the richest fight in boxing history. And rightfully so, considering that the fight is five year in the making and involves the two biggest names in boxing. Adding a Mexican champion in Leo Santa Cruz gives the card a Mexican flavor in honor of the Cinco de Mayo weekend.
