Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares will collide in a highly anticipated featherweight showdown on Saturday at Staples Center in Los Angeles as part of the Premier Boxing Champions series.

Santa Cruz and Mares are both looking to improve their stocks and climb up the pound-for-pound ladder, and winning in their World Boxing Association welterweight title showdown will be a big step. Aside from the WBA welterweight crown, the World Boxing Council Diamond featherweight title will also be at stake.

Fighter's Predictions

Santa Cruz, who holds a perfect 30-0 record with 17 knockout victories, expects a close fight. He even predicted that there could be a rematch or a possible trilogy depending on how their fight will end.

However, the 27-year-old Mexican said that he will go all out to score a convincing win on Saturday night so that they will not need a rematch to prove who the better fighter is.

"I see it very possible that there will maybe be a rematch or a trilogy," Santa Cruz, who defeated Jesus Ruiz and Jose Cayetano earlier this year, said via BoxingScene. "It all depends on how it goes, but I'm going to try to win this fight convincingly so there won't be a rematch."

On the other hand, Mares is also confident of his chances heading into their world title showdown.

Mares, who has a 29-1-1 record with 15 knockout victories, is considered as slight favorite over Santa Cruz. The 29-year-old former world champion was being touted as the next big thing in boxing several years ago, but his career took a hit in 2013.

Mares, the then-WBC featherweight world champion, took a devastating first-round knockout loss to Jhonny Gonzales in August 2013. Mares admitted that he thought his career is over after that loss, but he has now regained his confidence. He is convinced he will emerge victorious against Santa Cruz.

"No doubt, I thought I was done," Mares said via Boxing Junkie. "But here I am, back again, and there's no doubt in my mind that I'm going to come out victorious on August 29 and prove to people that I was never gone."

Since losing to Gonzales, Mares racked up convincing decision victories against Jonathan Oquendo, Jose Ramirez and Arturo Santos Reyes, respectively.

TV Schedule & Online Live Stream

The Premier Boxing Champions showdown between Mares and Santa Cruz will be shown live on ESPN starting 10 p.m. ET. Fans can also catch the action through online live streaming via WatchESPN.

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