On Saturday, February 27, 2016, undefeated Featherweight world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (31-0-1,17 KOs) and former world champion Kiko Martinez (35-6, 26 KOs) will face off at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and live on Showtime starting at 10:00 pm, EST.
Both Santa Cruz and Martinez are come-forward, and aggressive-minded fighters who don’t mind mixing it up.
Read on for Round By Round Boxing’s staff predictions for Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez and let us know who you think will win.
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Leo Santa Cruz
vs.
Kiko Martinez
Photo by Esther Lin
Liam Brady, Graphic Designer/Contributing Writer
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Brandon Glass, Staff Writer
This is a continuation in the “stepping up” of the competition for Leo Santa Cruz, taking on former world champion and three-time European champion in Kiko Martinez. Martinez has a wealth of experience and could really pose some issues for Santa Cruz.
He packs a decent punch and boasts a 63-percent KO ratio. Martinez does give up two inches in height and three inches in reach to Santa Cruz, but stylistically, Santa Cruz doesn’t really utilize those advantages.
This will be a phone booth fight, which will only be settled as the rounds pass. I believe Santa Cruz has more to offer technically, with his great work to the body. Santa Cruz will need to attack the body early and often, hoping for a big pay off down the stretch.
The longer Martinez sticks around, the harder the fight will be for the young champion–if the body shots don’t have the intended effect. I think they will, though. Santa Cruz wins this fight by decision if not by late stoppage.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Amber Williams, Photographer
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Sarah Gruber, Staff Writer
I like this fight, I think this is a good test for Leo Santa Cruz to fight a more battle-tested opposition.
I think Santa Cruz is good, but I actually felt his fight with Abner Mares was a draw and thus I am not super hyped on his skill set yet.
I am looking forward to him fighting a more seasoned opponent and seeing what he can do with his talents rather than trying to go to war.
I think Santa Cruz can be successful if he outboxes Kiko Martinez by moving and staying behind his jab more than usual. Santa Cruz by decision.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
Alex Burgos, Editor-in-Chief
Kiko Martinez is a tough customer, but he’s lost twice to the upper-echelon fighters in Carl Frampton (once by stoppage) Sott Quigg (by stoppage).
Leo Santa Cruz has to match those performances and score an impressive victory to keep up with the European champs, if not he can expect some of the same backlash he was getting before he fought and defeated Abner Mares.
Martinez is no spring chicken, but he has some power that should keep things interesting early on. I think Santa Cruz will be able to overwhelm Martinez by the middle rounds with his high work rate and score a late stoppage or decision win.
Prediction: Santa Cruz
