Rahman – Maskaev: Undercard Preview and Boxing Weights

The two main undercard fights to the Rahman-Maskaev heavyweight title bout tonight at the Thomas and Mack Center in Las Vegas are perhaps being overlooked as both bouts are capable of stealing the show.

WBC Lightweight champion Jose Armando Santa Cruz (23-1, 13KO’s) defends his title against southpaw punching David Diaz(31-1-1, 16KO’s). Michoacan, Mexico native Santa Cruz has a crowd-pleasing, non-stop presure punching style that he recently used to overcome tough and skillful Edner Cherry amongst other name fighters on his way to the title.

Chicago native Diaz also has used a high volume punching style to earn victories over solid fighters such as Emanuel Augustus, Juaquin Gallardo, and a deserved title shot for the 30 year old former amateur standout.

In their only single career losses, both fighters were in the fight up until the very end. At 5’10” Santa Cruz will have a 3 inch height advantage, and is the younger man at 25 years old. From the way the two fighters looked on the scales yesterday, along with the fact that it’s their first fight in Las Vegas underneath a major pay-per view event, both fighters will likely give it their all in a fan friendly bout.

In the second undercard event, more fireworks are likely as WBC Featherweight champion Humberto Soto(39-5-2,23KO’s) moves up to 130 lbs in a Super Featherweight Title Eliminator bout against Ivan Valle(25-4-1,21KO’s). Both fighters hail from Los Mochis, Mexico and are
accustomed to most of their bouts ending before the final bell. The winner earns the right to face the winner of the much aniticpated September WBC title match between Marco Antonia Barrera and Rocky Juarez.

The Top Rank promoted event is televised on HBO PPV, with the undercard bouts starting at 6pm PST, and the main event starting around 8pm PST.

Weights from Las Vegas.

Jose Armando Santa Cruz 134.5 David Diaz 134.5
Humberto Soto 130 Ivan Valle 130
Vanes Martirosyan 152 Marcus Brooks 152.5