As Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao fight night approaches, Mayweather Promotions announced today that undefeated Mexican superstar and current WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo “Terremoto” Santa Cruz (29-0-1, 17 KOs) will be featured on the three-fight pay-per-view televised undercard against an opponent to be determined.
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao takes place Saturday, May 2 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and will be co-produced and co-distributed live by HBO Pay-Per-View® and SHOWTIME PPV® beginning at 9:00 p.m. ET/6:00 p.m. PT.
“I’m extremely excited to put one of the most popular and exciting Mexican fighters in the world on the pay-per-view undercard of this historic event on Cinco De Mayo weekend,” said Mayweather, president of Mayweather Promotions. “I’m all about giving my loyal fans what they want. All the fans watching on fight night will be in for a great show when Leo Santa Cruz enters the ring.”
“I’m so honored to be the lead-in for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao, and I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to do so on Cinco De Mayo weekend,” said Santa Cruz. “This will be a huge night for boxing and I plan on showing everybody that I’m all about action-packed fights. I’m grateful to Floyd Mayweather and Mayweather Promotions for giving me this opportunity and giving the Mexican fight fans another reason to cheer on May 2.”
Mayweather vs. Pacquiao marks the second-consecutive Mayweather pay-per-view event featuring Santa Cruz. In September, he wiped out Manuel Roman with a second-round technical knockout as the co-main event of “MAYHEM: Mayweather vs. Maidana 2.” Previously he had fought on the non-televised undercard of MAY DAY: Mayweather vs. Robert Guerrero, with a technical knockout over Alexander Munoz. Additionally, this is the fourth consecutive fight for Santa Cruz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena and his ninth overall in the state of Nevada of his 30 professional fights.
In non-pay-per-view undercard action, a pair of Mayweather Promotions’ fighters will look to keep their undefeated records intact. Super welterweight prospect Chris “Sweet” Pearson (11-0, 9 KOs) will square off against tough brawler Said El Harrak (12-2-2, 7 KOs) in a 10-round bout.
“I’m a young, hungry fighter who has big aspirations in this sport,” said Pearson. “May 2 is a great opportunity to show the world why I will be a future world champion.”
Plus, cruiserweight knockout artist Andrew “The Beast” Tabiti (9-0, 9 KOs) takes on an opponent to be determined in eight rounds of action.
“I can’t wait for this opportunity to get in the ring and show off my power on May 2,” said Tabiti. “I’m always ready to put on a show for the fans and I hope they’re ready to see a big knockout.”
“Mayweather Promotions is dedicated to putting on the biggest events for fans and with the inclusion of these great young fighters we are ensuring that once again,” said Leonard Ellerbe, CEO of Mayweather Promotions. “Chris Pearson and Andrew Tabiti are future world champions who will have a chance to perform on the biggest stage in all of boxing on May 2, and I can’t say enough bout how excited we are to have Leo Santa Cruz on the card as the lead in for Mayweather vs. Pacquiao.”
The fan-friendly two-division world champion Santa Cruz has defended his super bantamweight title numerous times in impressive fashion on his way to earning a reputation as one of the most exciting fighters in the world. The 26-year-old won his first world title in 2012. In 2013, he won his super bantamweight title, which he now holds. Born in Huetamo, Michoaca de Ocampo, Mexico but fighting out of Los Angeles, Santa Cruz looks to entertain the fans at MGM Grand on May 2 when he fights on the highly anticipated Mayweather vs. Pacquiao pay-per-view.
An undefeated prospect out of Dayton, Ohio, Pearson is coming off of an impressive unanimous decision in December 2014 over the hard-hitting Steve Martinez and he looks to keep his momentum going when he fights on May 2. At just 24, Pearson had recorded eight straight victories inside the distance before his most recent bout. He takes on the 27-year-old El Harrak, who fights out of Henderson, Nev. by way of London.
A 25-year-old with extreme knockout power, Tabiti last fought in December 2014 and delivered with a first-round knockout of Ernest Reyna. It was his ninth knockout in a row to start his career. Born in Chicago but fighting out of Las Vegas, “The Beast” hopes to make it 10 knockouts in 10 tries when he enters the ring on May 2.
