Leo Santa Cruz Takes Title From Terrazas

Victor Terrazas came in the titlist but Leo Santa Cruz came in with the buzz and perceived shine as the favorite, perhaps, because of his more frequent TV appearances, in the TV opener at the StubHub Center in Carson, CA, on Saturday night, on Showtime.

Golden Boy put together the show.

Terrazas (37-2-1; from Mexico) captured the vacant WBC 122 pound crown off Cristian Mijares in his last outing. The 25-year-old Santa Cruz (24-0-1 entering; born in Mexico, living in LA) was ranked No. 1 by the WBC, and previously held a bantamweight crown himself. Terreza's right eye was almost closed by the end of the second round, which was stellar for Santa. Santa attacked, advanced, landed clean with the right, and also mixed in hooks to the body. A left hook had Terrezas down and he was up at 1:32. He went down, off clean rights on a knee, at 1:02. The ref asked him if he wanted to continue and didn't like the answer, so he ended the bout. The end was 2:09 of the third.

The numbers: the victor went 78-267 to 33-156 for the loser.

Check back for David Avila's ringside report.

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