(Photo: Showtime Sports) By Jim Dower: IBF bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (22-0-1, 13 KO’s) is making a pretty good case for him being the most exciting fighter in the bantamweight division. Earlier tonight, the 24-year-old Santa Cruz stopped the incredibly game Victor Zaleta (20-3-1, 10 KO’s) by a 9th round TKO at the Stapes Center in Los Angeles, California.
Santa Cruz knocked Zaleta down three times in the fight – the 4th, 7th and 9th rounds. The stoppage came from a hard right hand to the head of Zetala that put him down in the 9th. The two other knockdowns came from left hands to the body from Santa Cruz.