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The fight that boxing is supposed to be about

LOS ANGELES – Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares threw more than 2,000 punches at each other, bouncing shots off the head, arms, shoulders and mid-section in a stirring battle for Southern California supremacy.

Their featherweight bout, which Santa Cruz won by majority decision, is what boxing is supposed to be all about.

It had an engaged crowd, which began roaring lustily during the pre-fight introductions and rarely stopped during the non-stop action at Staples Center. When the fight ended, the largely Hispanic crowd began to sing.

Abner Mares, left, exchanges punches with Leo Santa Cruz during their fight. (AP)
Abner Mares, left, exchanges punches with Leo Santa Cruz during their fight. (AP)

The fighters left everything they had in the ring and competed with passion, pride and poise. Mares literally raced out of his corner at the opening bell and fired a hard shot at Santa Cruz, his long-time Los Angeles rival, signifying the kind of night this would be.

Mares smothered Santa Cruz early, and did brilliant work on the inside, taking away Santa Cruz’s punching room.

But Santa Cruz showed his class and made an adjustment. He used his jab, often hooking off of it, to slow Mares’ assault and keep him at a distance. Whenever they were at a distance, Santa Cruz was raking Mares with hard shots.

“I was surprised Abner came out so strong,” Santa Cruz said. “He came right at me, but we figured him out and we got the win.”

For several years, fight fans have been calling for the rival to meet, and frustrations built as each of them took on a string of stiffs and lesser lights in recent bouts.

But the long wait was clearly worth it, and it probably won’t be that long before they see each other inside the ring again. Though Santa Cruz was clearly the better man on this night, this is the kind of fight that demands at least one more.

Mares said he wanted a rematch and Santa Cruz said he had no problem granting it. It was a huge victory for Santa Cruz, who called it “a dream come true.”

Judges Jesse Reyes and Steve Morrow had it 117-111 apiece for Santa Cruz, while Max DeLuca scored it 114-114. Yahoo Sports had it 116-112 for Santa Cruz.

“I think I made a mistake in my strategy,” Mares said after dropping to 29-2-1. “I came out strong and my corner was telling me to slow down and I wanted to go as fast as I could.”

Both men fought at a blistering pace and threw punches so quickly their hands were often a blur. The match was reminiscent of so many battles between Mexican stars.

It shared a lot of the fury and intensity of the four bouts between super bantamweights Rafael Marquez and Israel Vazquez, or the three amazing battles in the early part of this century between Marco Antonio Barrera and Erik Morales.

It may not have had had quite as much action as those classic matches, but it was in that kind of ballpark. Combined, they landed 600 of 2,037 shots, many of them hard, punishing blows.

Seeing them tear into each other, and listening to the lively crowd of 13,109 gleefully cheer them on, makes one wonder what took so long to get the two men together.

Mares climbed the ring ropes after the fight ended but before the scores were read. The crowd, which was heavily supporting Santa Cruz, booed loudly, but he grinned in return.

That grin was just one of many on this night, because it was the kind of battle those who saw it won’t soon forget.

“I thought the fight was closer than they said,” Mares said. “I’m happy because it was a good fight and a great fight for the fans. I know I started really fast and really good but my corner wanted me to box more. He threw a lot of punches. I threw a lot of punches. I knew had to keep that pressure and I did. I’m proud of myself.”

Leo Santa Cruz, right, lands a punch against Abner Mares during their fight. (AP)
Leo Santa Cruz, right, lands a punch against Abner Mares during their fight. (AP)

Santa Cruz has long had special talent, but he was facing too many sub-par opponents recently, hurting him in the process. This performance, though, reminded why so many, including his former promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, predicted great things for him.

He took on the best opponent of his career and delivered a master class, showing his poise and his wisdom at every turn.

“If he wants the rematch, I'll give him the rematch,” Santa Cruz said. “I want to fight the best. I want the big fights.”

Hopefully, two or three of those big fights he gets in the next couple of years have Mares standing across the ring from him.

After waiting so long for the first one, their fans deserve to see that as soon as they are rested and recovered.