On Saturday, February 27, 2016, Showtime Championship Boxing returns with a night of boxing headlined by two come-forward fighters.
Undefeated three-division world champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17 KOs) from Huetamo, Michoacán de Ocampo, Mexico will be making the first defense of his WBA “Super Duper” Featherweight strap against former world champion Kiko Martinez (35-6, 26 KOs).
Whether it’s fair or not, the 27-year-old Santa Cruz’s performance against Martinez will be closely compared to that of Carl Frampton‘s and Scott Quigg’s.
Frampton and Quigg both dispensed of Martinez, with the former beating him twice–once by stoppage and once by decision–and the latter blasting the Spaniard in July of 2015.
“It’s important to look spectacular against Kiko Martinez and try to beat him better than Scott Quigg and Frampton did. So I could show that I’m at their level or even better,” said Santa Cruz during a recent media conference call.
After receiving tons of criticism from boxing fans and writers for facing questionable opposition, Santa Cruz went 3-0 in 2015 and defeated former WBC Featherweight champion Abner Mares in August–his biggest win to date.
Martinez feels that many people are overlooking him in this fight and he’s anxious to prove that he’s still got gas left in the tank.
“I know a lot of people are doubting me. I’m going to change the opinion of the public,” said Martinez who has the championship experience on his side.
“I don’t think anyone he’s fought is as strong as me or has the kind of desire that I have,” said Martinez.
Should Santa Cruz get past Martinez, the winner of Frampton-Quigg could be in his future.
“Yes I would be interested in the fight,” said Santa Cruz.
“I’m going to work at this. I would I love to fight any of the winner of that fight. Hopefully I get the win that night. I would definitely like to fight the winner of Frampton and Quigg.”
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Kiko Martinez happens on Saturday, February 27, 2016 live from the Honda Center in Anaheim, California and on Showtime Championship Boxing starting at 10:00 pm, EST.
Photo by Scott Hirano/Showtime
