By David Martinez
My candidate for “Upset of the Year 2013” came on August 24th, at the Stub-Hub Center in Carson, California. Former two time champion Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8 / 47 by KO) knocked out previously unbeaten WBC featherweight champion and former IBF bantamweight / WBC super bantamweight titlest Abner Mares (26-1-1 / 14 by KO) at 2:55 of the first round. Gonzalez threw a perfect left hook that sent Mares down midway in the opening round. With that knockdown he sensed the beginning of the end for Mares. Gonzalez started immediately with a barrage of punches, with the end coming for Mares with a left hook-right cross combination. The betting odds for this fight were 11 to 1 favoring Mares with every boxing expert, including myself, picking Mares to retain his title.
In the semi-main event, also televised by Showtime, unbeaten former IBF bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (25-0-1 / 15 by KO) looked absolutely brilliant winning the WBC super bantamweight title by a third round knockout of Victor Terrazas (37-3-1 / 21 by KO). The sky is certainly the limit for the 25 year old Santa Cruz with possible huge mega fights looming in his future. The two best opponents, currently at this 122 pound weight class, are Guillermo Rigondeaux and Nonito Donaire.