Abner Mares, Leo Santa Cruz to star in StubHub Center doubleheader

On a run of winning world titles in three divisions during his last four fights, Southland boxer Abner Mares is moving toward his first world featherweight title defense Aug. 24 at Carson’s newly named StubHub Center against former champion Jhonny Gonzalez.

Mares’ promoter, Richard Schaefer, told The Times on Friday that he’s finalizing contracts for Mares (26-0-1, 14 knockouts) and the 31-year-old Gonzalez (54-8, 46 KOs).

Schaefer said he’s already won a purse bid over rival promoters Top Rank and Fernando Beltran of Mexico to place a super-bantamweight title fight on that same Aug. 24 card.

Los Angeles’ former world bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (24-0-1, 14 KOs) will fight for the World Boxing Council super-bantamweight belt belonging to Mexico’s Victor Terrazas (37-2-1, 21 KOs).

There has been a push since Mares’ impressive ninth-round technical-knockout victory over Daniel Ponce De Leon to match him against Santa Cruz, a devastating body puncher.

Putting the pair on the same card heightens the speculation they’re bound for a showdown.

“I’m not saying that yet,” Schaefer said. “Let’s enjoy these two big fights, this huge doubleheader with four great Mexican fighters.”

Schaefer is in Brooklyn, N.Y., on Friday preparing for the Saturday night World Boxing Assn. welterweight title fight between unbeaten Adrien Broner and Brooklyn’s Paulie Malignaggi at Barclays Center.

Showtime will televise that fight.

A victory by the 23-year-old Broner (26-0, 22 KOs) would enrich an already deep welterweight division with a rising star who already has won super-featherweight and lightweight world titles.

“He’s in the best weight class now,” Schaefer said. “This is where the action is.”

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