Another Mexican Star is Born

Santa Cruz landing one of his vicious body shots

Last night's Boxing action promised much beforehand, both Golden Boy and Top Rank put together two fantastic bills. There's no doubt that the Martinez v Chavez Jr fight will be one that lives long in the memory of most Boxing fans, mostly because of the big onslaught from the Mexican in the final round. Matthew Macklin had a superb win and Martinez v Beltran was a great Puerto Rico v Mexico war at the Thomas & Mack Centre.

At the MGM Grand, the dominant stoppage for Canelo Alvarez, that many had predicted came to fruition, Daniel Ponce de Leon became a world champion in a second weight class, while Maidana v Soto Karass delivered what I expected, that had great, fan friendly fight written all over it. 

And still IBF champ

The guy that really impressed me on this awesome night for pugilists the world over was unbeaten Mexican bantamweight Leo Santa Cruz. "Teremoto" won the IBF title with a wide 12 round decision over South Africa's Vusi Malinga in June, and that left a little to be doubted about his power. However last night he completely destroyed the very experienced Eric Morel in five rounds, targeting the 36 year old's somewhat fragile body, landing 89 shots to the mid-rift in the first four rounds.

I've seen one or two articles of late, which have followed the lack of American success at the Olympics, that Mexico is starting to become the dominant force in Boxing. Mexico have always been a nation with a fantastic tradition in Boxing, but we are now starting to see them get champions at the bigger weights, whilst a lot of these smaller guys keep coming through.

Santa Cruz from Huetamo, Michoacan de Ocampo, has risen up the #3 in boxrec's bantamweight rankings after this win, which has to go down as a huge win. Morel is a faded force and is much longer in the tooth than Leo, but Abner Mares couldn't stop him in their catchweight 120lbs fight in April, and it certainly makes a case for a massive all Mexican clash in the next 12-18 months between the two Golden Boy promoted fighters, this if Mares gets the past the uber-talented Panamanian boxer Anselmo Moreno  in November.

Moreno currently tops the bantamweight rankings, and a fight with him even if he loses to Mares, would definitely be a great seller and make for a fantastic clash of styles, Mares v Moreno looks like it will be a bit of a chess match, with both guys such excellent boxers. Just ahead of Santa Cruz in the rankings is Shinsuke Yamanaka from Japan, unbeaten in 16 fights and the current WBC champion. Both guys turned pros in 2006 and I believe that's a fantastic match up, judged on last night Santa Cruz is one who is going to progress quickly and become another huge Mexican star.