The Alamodome, San Antonio, TX, Oct. 31
TV: Showtime PPV
By Peter Lim
Even more intriguing than a title unification bout is a contest for two separate titles in two separate weight divisions. In this case, it is for Santa Cruz's 130-pound and Davis' 135-pound belt, both from the same alphabet organization.
Santa Cruz and Davis are relatively evenly-matched in hand-and-foot speed, ring generalship, defense and punch resistance. Santa Cruz's longer reach is significant on paper but he typically does not exploit that advantage with his in-your-face style. "El Terremoto" also has a slight edge in big-fight experience and versatility, and more than a slight edge in machine gun-like volume punching.
But Davis has a huge edge in punching power and that will ultimately tip the balance in this showdown. As his nickname suggests, he is built like a tank and is as explosively as one. Freakishly compact and strong, the Baltimore southpaw possesses a cannon in his left and a bazooka in his right.
Santa Cruz has success in the early rounds with his signature rapid-fire flurries upstairs and down that force Davis to continually reset while shielding himself effectively from anything Davis can muster in return. But Davis gets in a direct hit with one of his left-handed bombs in the fifth round that rocks Santa Cruz's world like never before. The writing is on the wall.
Santa Cruz's Mexican DNA will not allow him to step back to re-strategize and re-energize and he persists in pressing the action. Davis willingly engages Santa Cruz up close and personal knowing he can hurt Santa Cruz with one well-placed shot more than Santa Cruz can hurt him with three. Timing Santa Cruz's charges with equal parts precision and power, Davis drops the outgunned but doggedly determined Californian in the eighth, tenth and eleventh rounds to win a unanimous decision in the 117-108 to 115-110 range.
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