Floyd Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero may be getting all of the attention, but there’s more action in store on Saturday night. That includes Leo Santa Cruz taking on Alexander Munoz, and the very intriguing featherweight title clash between Daniel Ponce de Leon and Abner Mares. Right here, you’ll find a huge collection of quotes from the undercard conference call which was recently held. Take a look.
Leo Santa Cruz
Hello, everybody. I’m very happy to be here and I’m very excited and I’m ready.
Itskowitch
All right, Leo. Thank you. We’ll now turn over to Q&A for Leo.
Q
Your last fight was on CBS and made a big splash. Now, you’re on a major card with Floyd Mayweather and Abner Mares, who there have been mention of you fighting him at some point. How big is this for you in terms of making an impression in the big lime light?
Santa Cruz
It’s a big pressure for me because being with Ponce de Leon and Mares and Mayweather, they know that they give good fights. They’re going to steal the show. So, for me to be on that card, it’s telling me that people are expecting a lot from me too. So, I will be training really hard in the gym and we’ll be giving it all we got so we could come out there May 4th and impress other people and give it all we got. That’s what we got to do, show the people and the fans what they want, what they like.
And I have big pressure, but I’m very motivated. I’m very happy and excited to be on this big undercard.
Q
Can you talk about the rise in weight? Is that beneficial to you? Were you having any weight issues, and also, the notion of your power going into the next weight class? Can you address all of those issues?
Santa Cruz
Yes. The bigger names are in 122 and that’s what we want to fight. Before, I thought earlier in my career, once I fight 122, and they said that I look stronger in 122, that I look stronger. I look much better. So, that’s why we move up to 122. So, I think it’s now official. We’re going to move 122.
We’re going to try to win this fight. We have to go out there and try our best and hopefully it goes good and then the next fight, or a couple of fights, we’re going to try to go for the world title again.
Q
When you say you want to look good and you’re on this big card, would a decision in your mind be palatable, or do you need to be spectacular and really kind of score a knockout in an impressive fashion?
Santa Cruz
Yes. That’s what we’re going to try to do. We’re going to try to go out there and we’re going to try to work the body and try to stop it because we’re going to try to be the first one to stop him because nobody has ever stopped him. So, we’re going to try to go out and try to impress with a knock-out and be the first one to stop him. If not, we’re going to try to do a good, good decision that I could impress all the fans and they could keep on following me and be impressed.
Q
What objectives do you have? You’re moving up in division. You’re moving up obviously from 118 to 122. Why are you doing that, and what are your plans?
Santa Cruz
Obviously a lot of the better fighters are at 122. A lot of the big names are there and at 126 as well. So, my objective is to fight at 122 a couple of times, hopefully be able to fight for world title. If I’m able to win a world title, defend it a few times, and then I can very easily move up to 126.
Q
What’s the difference in the gym? What have you been doing differently in the gym? What have you been working on? How do you feel at 122, fighting at a bigger weight?
Santa Cruz
I’ve been working on many things. First of all, I feel really good. I feel a lot stronger at 122 and I’ve been working a little bit on my defense with my father and my brother. We’ve been working on lateral movement, a lot of waste movement, bobbing and weaving and everything is going great.
Q
How important is it for you to be fighting on May 4 underneath these huge names – Mayweather, Guerrero, Daniel Ponce de Leon, Mares? How important is it for you and how do you feel about fighting on this date?
Santa Cruz
It’s very important. It’s an important fight. It’s an important date. It’s a pay-per-view. It’s probably one of the most important fights of my career. It’s almost like fighting for a world title. I got to take advantage of it. I got to steal the spotlight. I got to make fans. There’s going to be so many people watching this show that I have to make a name for myself.
Obviously, Mayweather’s going to put a good fight like he always does. Daniel Ponce de Leon, Abner Mares are going to put on a good fight. I want to stay too far behind. I got to put up a good fight as well so I can be able to steal some fans, have people follow me. It’s important for my career. It’s important for the future.
Q
You fought five times in 2012. You’re fighting for the first time this Saturday this year. Were there plans by you or your team to slow things down a bit for this year?
Santa Cruz
They told me that they had something good for me, to just be patient and wait and the patience was worth it because I’m not on this big undercard. Anybody would like to be on this card. Thank God and thank the promoter and my manager that they pick me to be on this undercard. So, I’m very happy.
Monica Sears
Leo, if you want to make any closing comments.
Santa Cruz
Yes, I want to say to all my fans, thank you for all the support. They’re the ones that are keeping me out here, training really hard. They’re the ones that give me the motivation to keep on fighting because it wasn’t for them, I wouldn’t be where I am right now. So, I say thank you and on May 4th, I’m going to go out there and give it my all. I’m going to give it my best because I’m going to give what the fans want.
I’m going to go out there and give it my all. I’m not going to give up and I’m going to try my best to impress them and to give them what they want. So, I say thank you.
Itskowitch
Okay. I’ll first say a few remarks. I’d like to introduce a young man who turned professional in 2005 after representing Mexico in the 2004 Olympics. He won his first world championship in 2011 when he defeated Joseph Agbeko for the IBF Bantamweight World Championship in Showtime’s Bantamweight Championship Series. After defending his title against Agbeko in a rematch later that year, Mares moved up to 122 pounds in 2012 and beat Eric Morel for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight belt.
In his most recent fight, he made a major statement with an exciting win over WBA Bantamweight Super World Champion, Anselmo Moreno last November and now, he’s ready to face Daniel Ponce De Leon for the WBC Featherweight World Championship and possibly become the three times Three-Division World Champion. He’s got a record of 25-0-1 with 13 KO’s, originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, now fighting out of Hawaiian Gardens, California, Abner Mares. Abner?
Mares
Hello. Hi. I’m happy to be on this card. I can’t wait to put on the show May 4th and I’m excited to be fighting Daniel Ponce de Leon, another warrior.
Itskowitch
Thank you, Abner. Now, to say a few words; he was a 2000 Olympian, has won world titles in the Junior Featherweight and Featherweight divisions. In 2005, he won the vacant WBO title at 122 pounds and went on to defend the belt six times. He’s 32-years-old and on a 3-0 winning streak right now, including his September 2012 win over Johnny Gonzales. He captured the WBC Featherweight World Championship, making him the two time world champion. He’s now looking to make it four in a row when he defends his title against Mares on Saturday night.
He has a record of 44-4 with 35 KO’s from Cuauhtémoc, Mexico, now fighting out of Los Angeles, California, Daniel Ponce de Leon. Ponce?
Ponce de Leon
Good afternoon. Thank you for being here, everybody and enjoy the fight May 4th.
Itskowitch
Okay. I guess we can now turn over to the media for questions for Abner and Ponce.
Q
I’d like to ask you about when this fight came about, it really came about because of the fact that you were not able to get the fight that you had told all of us for a long time that you really wanted, which was the fight against Donaire to unify your title at 122 pounds.
Can you just talk about going from thinking that maybe you might have a chance to get that fight, there was an offer extended, it didn’t work out. He went and was doing his other fight that he ended up losing to Guillermo Rigondeaux and now you’re taking the opportunity to go up in weight and in your first fight at the weight; you’re getting a chance to fight for the world title. Sort of your feelings about how that all sort of played out.
Mares
I think it just played out great. I mean things started falling into place. It went from wanting to get that big fight against Nonito Donaire and pressuring for that fight. Obviously, … weren’t comfortable with the contract and then it went to Ponce having a fight against Menes and that fight falling through and myself getting the opportunity to fight Ponce.
So, I think everything happens for a reason. Everything’s fell into place and I think it was meant to be. Thank God, I thank Golden Boy and everybody in my whole team for making this possible to give me an opportunity to fight for another world title with the opportunity of becoming three time world champion. I’m excited for this weekend.
Q
Abner, when you gave up the title after you didn’t get the fight against Donaire and you made the decision to go to featherweight, had you given up the title and made that announcement knowing that you were going to get Ponce, or just taking the opportunity, not knowing if this would be your fight and it just ended up working out that way? In other words, did you know that you were getting a big fight when you left the weight class without the Donaire fight in your back pocket, or did it come along after you had already made that decision to give up the belt and to move up in weight?
Mares
It actually came along. I mean, again, it fell into place. I think any other fighter, and I myself was thinking of taking-getting my feet wet first at 126, a featherweight. We were trying to get a fight in Mexico, something comfortable. But again, things have started happening, started falling into place and I got this opportunity.
I like to take advantage of the opportunities and this fight was presented. It’s a tough fight. It’s a hard fight to start with at 126. But again, I think it’s a great opportunity and I’m going to take full advantage of it.
Q
Okay, but just to be clear, when you gave up the title, you didn’t know that this was going to be taking place.
Mares
No. No, no, no. I gave up my title thinking I was just moving up to 126 and looking for the opportunity. But again, this opportunity was presented for the reason his fight fell through. I was looking for a fight at 126 and things just happened.
Q
Okay, and I want to ask Ponce the same question when Abner’s done answering. It is an unusual situation that both of you guys, two top fighters, champions, both managed by the same manager. Frank Espinoza’s obviously done a good job to get you guys to where you are, but it’s not a normal thing that managers have their fighters face each other. I’m wondering if either of you have an opinion on that happening and how that has in any way either been a problem, or worked out well or if you’re happy with the way things are split up.
I know Frank has talked to me about making sure that he does everything 50 percent down the line that doesn’t try to favor either one of you guys, whether it’s everything from the ring walks to how things are done in the dress room ahead of time; all the different things that go into taking care of a fight. What are your thoughts on that aspect of this matchup that is a little unusual, Abner?
Mares
Okay, no, I mean Frank has kept it really professional in that sense. I mean I really, really appreciate and want to let it be known that Frank has been nothing by professional in that sense. He’s been-it was hard. It must be hard for him.
He’s away from my camp. He hasn’t stepped a foot in my gym since I started camp out of respect to me and out of respect to Ponce. I’m sure he hasn’t been to his camp either. He just calls me on a professional sense, for interviews, but nothing regarding my training.
Again, it’s tough for him to make this fight happen and I just thank him for making this fight happen and at the same time, I’m sure it’s hard for him. I mean I’m comfortable as far as giving me the opportunity and, as well, keeping it fifty-fifty for me and Ponce.
Ponce De Leon
No, everything’s fine. It’s actually kind of easy because it was easy to make the fight. Golden Boy, Frank, represent both fighters. So, it was kind of easy to make the fight. There’s no controversy whatsoever. Golden Boy, you guys have been neutral. Everything has been neutral with Golden Boy and with Frank as well. He’s been neutral. So, everything’s been fine.
Q
Obviously, this is a difficult fight. Abner’s a very good fighter. He’s a smaller guy coming up though, but at the same time, he’s a very good boxer. How do you see the fight coming out this Saturday?
Ponce De Leon
I’m a tough fighter. I’m a pressure fighter. I like to come forward and make fights, which is good and it’s going to be a very difficult fight, but I trained hard. I trained very, very hard and I’m going to be ready for the fight.
Q
How important is it for you fight a big fight card like this one underneath Mayweather? How important is it for you, and how do you feel fighting on the fight card?
Ponce De Leon
Well, it’s very important. Fighting underneath Mayweather, it’s a big show and not only that, but also fighting on Cinco de Mayo. That’s a big fiesta for Mexico, tradition. I’m excited to be fighting there. Mexico’s, they’re warriors. They’re warriors. They’ve been at war. It was actually May 5th is about a war. So, it’s very good.
I’m just happy also that the U.S. recognizes it, that it’s an important holiday for all Mexicans. So, I’m very, very excited.
Mares
It’s great. I’m very, very excited. Obviously, when you fight underneath Mayweather, the fans come out. People pay attention. It gets everybody to tune in. So, it’s very, very good. It’s going to be important for me to try to steal the spotlight. It’s going to be a very, very good fight and I just feel that hopefully on Sunday after the fight, nobody’s really talking about Mayweather. I hope everybody’s talking about the great that the two Mexicans put on, Abner Mares and Ponce De Leon.
Q
Abner, you fought your last six fights against who’s who – Perez, Darchinyan, Agbeko twice, Morel, Moreno. I think the boxing public appreciates your ability. Do you feel generally appreciated in a relation to guys like say Tim Bradley and Adrien Broner?
Mares
This year I’m not quite yet to that level where I think I deserve it. I know Bradley fought a lot of great fights and it only took him that one fight against Pacquiao to really get him recognized. I am looking for that big fight and I think I have been doing it 5:30 p.m. and keep on going. I don’t plan on stopping here after Ponce. I plan on fighting any other top elite fighter.
I just hope that I do get direct relation after this fight that I’m going to put in on May 4th in this great, great performance.
Q
You fought guys like Gamboa and Broner. There are some people who have already beat Broner and obviously we fought Lopez and lost that fight. Do you feel that those fights could be a barometer for you maybe winning spectacular and in comparison, you want to do better than those guys did against?
Mares
Definitely. I think I’ve proven myself already to some point by just fighting all these elite fighters and pretty much letting people know that I’m … face anyone. And those names that you brought up I mean just are big, elite names, big names and I will definitely and anybody that knows boxing knows that I will definitely fight them any given day.
Of course, I got this big fight, this tough fight against Ponce De Leon and God willing, getting past this fight with a victory I will most definitely look into those things as well.
Q
Okay, last question for you. You’re moving up in weight. He does hit very hard. In relation to the guys that you’ve fought and the fact that you’re moving up, how big a factor-can you characterize the factor that Ponce De Leon’s power is and how that factors into your strategy?
Mares
I mean it’s a big factor knowing that I’m stepping in a different weight class, heavier weight class and already going in against a heavy puncher. It’s hard, but I think it’s all mental. I think it’s all mental. I’m going in weighing the same. He’s weighing the same that same night and after, I know I’m going to recuperate and I’m going to be at least six to ten pounds heavy the next day.
I think that night, I want to let it be known that skills and smartness skills power and power and pressure any day. So, I think that’s going to be my key and I plan to put it to work on May 4th.
Q
Okay. Same question that I left on with Abner; given the fact that he’s moving up in weight, how much do you think your size and your power relative to what he has seen, how much do you think that will be a factor in this fight?
Ponce de Leon
Basically that is going to be a difference. It is going to be somewhat of a difference and you do have to take it into account. I’ve done it before in my career. I fought as high as 130 and I noticed a difference in size and in power. So, I’m sure that he’s going to feel the difference as well. It’s hard to just jump up all of a sudden to another weight class and be fighting for the world title. It’s very, very tough.
But, even though I say that, I’m not going to take it. I’m going to be very, very careful, obviously. I’m going to still think about my game plan and I’m preparing myself as if I’m fighting a solid 126 pounder featherweight in my division.
Q
Okay. My last question for you; you fought, as I mentioned, Gamboa, Broner, Lopez and you’re coming off that big win over Gonzales. How does he compare to Gonzales first of all? Are you looking at him as a more difficult opponent or about the same? And then, how did the fights with Gamboa and Broner who are both boxers, you fought Broner at a higher weight class, how will those fights prepare you for this one?
Ponce De Leon
Well, Abner is very similar to them. He’s very similar. He’s a good technician. He’s got a very, very good style, but the difference is that he’s smaller. I fought both Gamboa and Broner at 130. They were bigger guys and I fought Johnny Gonzales at 126. He’s a good technician. It was a tough fight as well. It wasn’t that easy, but the difference is that Abner’s a smaller guy.
But, nevertheless, I know it’s going to be a tough fight. It’s going to be a hard, tough fight and that’s what I prepared myself for. I prepared myself for a tough fight and the most important thing is to make a good fight.
Q
Okay, real quick, since you touched on it, you talked about what it was like for you to move up and fight Gamboa and Broner. You just mentioned that he’s smaller. Again, I want to ask you are you planning on emphasizing at all your size and your power to a degree that maybe he hasn’t seen in his past?
Ponce De Leon
I’m going to come out and fight. I’m going to come out and fight. I have my strategy and I’m going to come out and fight. Obviously, depending on how the fight goes, if I feel that there’s a big advantage in using my size and my power, then I’m going to take advantage of it. I’m going to take advantage of it. I’m going to feed off of that and use it to my power and to my advantage.
But, at the same time, since he is a smaller guy, he can very well be faster. So, I got to be careful with that as well. So, it all depends. I’m going to come out with my strategy. If feel that I can utilize my size and power, then I’m going to use that and use it to my advantage.
Q
You’re moving up. You’re moving up to a different weight division. How’s your preparation been? What have you been doing in the gym? How do you feel?
Mares
I feel very good. I feel very strong. That’s the difference. Believe it or not, those four little pounds make a difference. I’m not dehydrated. I don’t have to struggle to make the weight. So, I feel very, very strong and my sparring, I’ve been sparring guys that are bigger, lightweight, junior welterweights.
But, I’ll know fight night what I have to do to be successful. I’m going to know fight night what it’s going to feel like. It’s different moving up in weight. But right now, I feel very good and I feel very strong.
Q
Abner, you’ve been moving up in weight. You’re going to move up again. Do you think this is too fast, it’s too early in your career to be moving up to this weight class, or do you think it’s good timing?
Mares
Look, the most important thing for me is to make good fights. I want to make good fights. I want to make my fans happy, all the boxing fans. I want them to be happy and coming out to my fights. So, that’s the most important thing for me.
This is going to be a good fight and moving up a weight or whatever, I look for the biggest possible fight at 122. There was one fight and that fight wasn’t able to be made. So, the next biggest thing was to move up and to fight for this title, and that’s what I’m doing.
But, the most important thing, again, are the fans, the boxing fans, and I want to make them happy. And if I make them happy I’m doing my job.
Q
You’ve been studying Abner. Do you see any weaknesses, anything that you can take advantage of?
Ponce De Leon
Well, I’m not going to give away any secrets, but I do have my strategy and I’m going to stick to my game plan, but I will say this; Abner has a big heart. I know that. He’s a very, very good fighter. He’s a pressure fighter. He knows how to pressure when he needs to and again, it’s going to be a good fight. And I’ll know fight night whether I have to box a little more or I have to put on pressure as well. And I’m going to know fight night what happens.
Q
Ponce, if you’re victorious on Saturday, what’s ahead? What can you tell us? What are your plans? What would you like to do?
Ponce De Leon
Well, I still feel that I have a lot to give to the sport. I feel a lot better now, a lot more confident, a lot stronger than I did when I was champion before at 122. Believe it or not, it’s a lot easier now I feel fighting because I have a lot more experience. But look, I’ll do whatever. I’ll fight anybody. I’ll do whatever my promoter says and I’ll be ready for anything, anything that comes ahead.
Q
How important is it for you to win your third world title and as many divisions?
Mares
It’s very motivating. It’s very, very motivating to me that I’m able to do it. I’m still very young. I’m 26-years-old and I’m able to do that in such a short period of time. Obviously, Julio Cesar Chavez did it. He was able to do it and to be able to do that, to be the next person to do it, it just feels great. It’s a motivating factor for me.
Q
Most of your career, all your career has been fights in the United States. Is this fight important to help boost your name and your fans in Mexico?
Mares
No, not really. I mean obviously people do know me in Mexico. This is a good fight against a tough champion, a very good champion in Ponce De Leon, Mexican champion people know. But, little by little, people are starting to know me. They’re starting to get to know me in Mexico because of the great fights I made in the past, the great opponents I’ve had. I think that the real switchover is going to be when I eventually fight in Mexico, which is something that’s a dream of mine, something I’ve been wanting to do, something I’ve talked to my promoter about.
And when I do that I feel that people-I’ll be able to win them over finally and they’ll see me fighting in the country of Mexico.
Q
Obviously, this is a historical fight. You said it itself, winning a third title in the Third-Division. How important is it for you to become a Mexican idol? Do you think this is going to do it for you?
Mares
Look, I don’t think about that. I don’t plan for it. I don’t think about that. Again, the most important thing for me is to make good fights, make great fights, let the people put me where they want to put me. Let them decide whether I’m an idol or not. I don’t worry about that.
I train hard to make good fights. I think that this is going to be a very good fight with Daniel Ponce De Leon and that’s the most important thing for is to make good fights and for the people to be happy. So, I don’t worry about that, or I don’t plan for it, to try to be an idol.
Q
I’d like to ask both fighters for their analysis of the Mayweather-Guerrero main event and who they both think will win and why, and then I have a follow-up question for Abner.
Mares
That fight-I don’t know. I’m just thinking about my fight. I don’t know. I just hope that it’s a good fight, but not as good as our fight. That’s it.
Ponce de Leon
Hey, it’s difficult to pick somebody. Mayweather is a very good fighter. He’s a difficult fighter, best defense, good fighter and Robert Guerrero too. Robert Guerrero is a very, very good fighter, worthy of this challenge. I just think that it’s up in the air. It’s a 50-50 fight. It’s up in the air and I just think it’s going to be a very, very good fight.
Q
Thanks and for Abner; Abner, regarding Guillermo Rigondeaux’s recent performance against Nonito Donaire, I was wondering if you were disappointed in the loss of a potential super fight opponent, or do you see it differently?
Mares
No. I was definitely not disappointed. If anything, I was more in shock, not shock, but I was like-I was one of the many people that thought Nonito was going to take it. I’m obviously going to back that up because I’ve said that Nonito was going to win and he didn’t. Rigondeaux gave him a hell of a fight, just a boxing clinic. He just out boxed him and did whatever he did with him on that fight.
I’m not disappointed at all. Everybody knew I wanted to fight Nonito. Rigondeaux exposed him. I wanted to be the one to do that, but he beat me to it. And now, I would love to fight any of them, either Rigondeaux or Nonito.
I saw Rigondeaux already in the amateurs in the Pan American Games. He beat me. Yes, it was a controversial fight and I would love to fight him again. But again, I have a fight less than a week away from now and I plan on seeing that fight first and then let’s see what happens.
Q
Of course. With regard to Rigondeaux performance, were you more surprised by how effective Rigondeaux was or by how ineffective Donaire was?
Mares
I think a little bit of both. I mean I already knew how Rigondeaux fought because he hasn’t changed at all – same style at the amateurs, really more as a defense fighter. I think I was a little bit shocked too, surprised that Nonito seemed like he didn’t train. He seemed like he was out of gas and didn’t know what to do.
But again, I blame that on his last four or five fights that he had. No fighter level to what Rigondeaux’s style and performance. I think that was a big major thing why he didn’t look that impressive.
Sears
Thanks, everyone, for being on the phone. Thanks to both Daniel and Abner. Do you guys want to make any last comments before we conclude the call?
Mares
Yes, just make sure you watch May 4th.. It’s going to be a great night of fights. Its Cinco de Mayo – a Mexican weekend and I plan to keep it that way, a Mexican weekend. Thank you so much.
Ponce de Leon
Thank you all. Thank you for all the support, especially Golden Boy Promotions, Frank Espinoza, the fans. I’ll wait for you guys. I’ll see you guys hopefully on May 4th, wait for a great fight and God bless everybody.
