Originally, Santa Cruz had been scheduled to take on Miguel Flores. However, Flores suffered an ankle injury during a training session about three weeks ago, and was subsequently replaced by Rivera.
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The 30-year-old Santa Cruz (35-1-1, 19 KOs) will be looking to defend the belt for the third time. He only fought once in 2018, defeating Abner Mares for the second time by unanimous decision back in June.
Rivera (26-2-2, 17 KOs) snapped a two-fight losing streak in October, knocking out Jose Ramos in the first round in October.
Stylistically, this is a better fight than what had been planned. Rivera has a better resume and can make it more competitive than Flores could have. Here’s everything you need to know about Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera.
(All times are Eastern.)
When is the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera fight?
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera commences on Saturday, Feb. 16. The main card begins at 8 p.m. Santa Cruz and Rivera are expected to make the walk to the ring for the main event at around 9:00 p.m.
How do I watch Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera?
The Santa Cruz vs. Rivera fight can be seen on Fox and streamed on the Fox Sports app.
Where is the Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera fight?
Leo Santa Cruz and Rafael Rivera will fight at the Microsoft Theater at L.A. Live in Los Angeles. This will be the fifth time Santa Cruz competes in the “City of Angels” and Rivera fights in the second-biggest media market for the second time.
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera betting odds
According to ProBoxingOdds.com, Leo Santa Cruz is a -10000 favorite, which means you’ll need to bet $10,000 to win $100. Meanwhile, Rivera is a +2875 underdog, meaning if you bet $100, you could win $2,875.
Leo Santa Cruz record and bio
Name: Leo Santa CruzNationality: MexicanBorn: August 10, 1988Height: 5-7 ½ Reach: 69"Total fights: 37Record: 35-1-1 with 19 knockouts.
Rafael Rivera record and bio
Name: Rafael Rivera Nationality: Mexican Born: April 5, 1994 Height: 5-7 Reach: 66" Total fights: 30 Record: 26-2-2 with 17 knockouts.
Leo Santa Cruz vs. Rafael Rivera fight card
