Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares II: Opening Press Conference

In anticipation of the June 9th rematch, Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares held their opening press conference yesterday. You can catch the full video of the opening presser above, courtesy of our friends at Fight Hub TV.

Mares (31-2-1, 15 KOs) is most recently coming off two straight decision wins since losing a majority decision to Santa Cruz back in August of 2015. Meanwhile Santa Cruz (34-1-1, 19 KOs) has won two since dropping a decision to Carl Frampton — although he came back to avenge that loss in his next outing.

Speaking on the upcoming rematch Mares offered these thoughts:

“It’s gonna be another great one, I can just imagine…Leo Santa Cruz is a great person, humble guy…He is a good kid, you know, and I guess I have to come in here as the bad guy…I can say ‘I’m gonna do this, I’m gonna do that’ but I think my fists and my knowledge does the the thinking for me.” [Editor’s Note: Uhhh, what?!]

“I think once we get in that ring, you already know. You saw the first fight in 2015, first bell, it’s war…This is just gonna be the same thing…I’m fighting for redemption. He beat me the first time and I’m gonna take this.”

Santa Cruz was up next to the podium and had this to say:

“I know sometimes you can win a fight more easily…but you always fight to please the fans. You always want them to go home happy, not to say it was a boring fight, and you just make the fight harder and that’s what I always try to do and I know that’s what Mares does too. We always go out there to give the fans a great show and you guys saw it in the first fight that we went at it…I think that this fight is gonna be better than the first fight.”

Watch all the festivities above!