Carl Frampton vs Leo Sta Cruz II is one of the most anticipated rematch in boxing. On Saturday, Jan 28 Frampton and Sta Cruz will do it again. In 2016, they fought a fight that was among the Fight of the Year candidate. In the above short preview clip Showtime discusses about last year's fight and the fighters preparation for this rematch.

Carl Frampton vs. Leo Santa Cruz II will be on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

In the co-main event, lightweight world champion Dejan Zlaticanin will meet former two-division champion Mikey Garcia in the opening bout on SHOWTIME at 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT. Featherweight world champion Lee Selby will fight for the second time in the United States when he battles former world champion Jonathan Victor Barros in action on SHOWTIME EXTREME.

Not so long ago Leo Santa Cruz vs Abner Mares fight could have been bigger. But in that particular time, two years ago, they refused to fight each other.

Mares (29-1-1, 15 KOs) insisted that Santa Cruz at time is not a step up fight, and he wanted only to fight the best. And one of the best at that time is Nonito Donaire, but because of boxing's cold war the Donaire fight is frozen several negative degrees south of the thermometer and it stayed like that.

Instead of Santa Cruz and Mares facing each other, they found separate ways.

Both men fought different opponents and had unfavorable outcome. Mares was frozen by Jhonny Gonzalez in the very first round in a fight he's expected to dominate being on his peak, while the older Gonzalez was somewhat on the decline at that time.

On the other hand, Santa Cruz (30-0-1, 17 KO's) although remained undefeated, has shown some weaknesses to lower caliber opponent. He showed a lot of flaws against lesser opposition that he should had easily defeated. He stepped down to his opponent's level. Maybe he became complacent in training?

Now, even if they found different ways at the time they should have fought, still the road leads to one another. They will finally meet at the Staples Center to headline PBC on ESPN. But is it the perfect timing?

When Pacquiao was iced by Juanma in 2012, Pacquiao cameback strong and won convincingly against Rios, Bradley and Algieri. Until the fans interest for a Mayweather fight came back. We had the richest fight in May, although outcome is action poor.

But for Uncle Al Haymon Santa Cruz vs. Mares stalling this fight longer doesn't make it even better. He can't wait no more. They should fight now or else they can't salvage any fan interest.

With that said, I think this is gonna be war! Both men needed to win this fight, otherwise the loser for sure will not be able to reach the peak of the mountain, but instead make at a short cut to the side and go downhill.

Santa Cruz 27 years old, and Mares 29 years old don’t want this to happen in their career at this point. This is a must-win fight for both of them. Many expected that this fight might lead to a trilogy. Some expected a Morales-Barrera like outcome or a Marquez-Vazquez. And I agree. This could be a classic all Mexican war. This is also a battle for who's the best featherweight fighter in California!

Don’t miss this fight live on ESPN/ESPN Deportes at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Undefeated super bantamweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (28-0-1, 16 KO's) said that he is tired of people telling him that he is  scared of a Rigondeaux fight. "He [Rigondeaux] is not invisible.", said Santa Cruz during the open media workout on Thursday at Who's Next Boxing Academy in preparation for his upcoming title defense agaisnt Jesus "Estrella" Ruiz (33-5-5, 22 KOs) on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

"I feel bad for all the people talking, but if they were in my shoes they would understand. I want the Rigondeaux fight, but the promoters have not come to an agreement. If it was up to me, I would fight him whenever. I am tired of people telling me that I am scared. I am looking for that fight as soon as possible, he is not invisible."

Santa Cruz  further said that he have a chance to beat Rigondeuax, "I think I have a chance to beat him. I know he is a tough fighter, but that's what we are here for, to fight the best."

Leo Santa Cruz Media Workout Photos (Photo credit Craig Bennett - Hoganphotos/SHOWTIME)

LAS VEGAS (Jan. 2, 2015) - Crowd-pleasing WBC Super Bantamweight World Champion Leo "Terremoto" Santa Cruz (28-0-1, 16 KOs) puts his title and unbeaten record on the line in a 12-round bout against Jesus "Estrella" Ruiz (33-5-5, 22 KOs).  Plus promising world-ranked undefeated junior welterweight Amir "Young Master" Imam (15-0, 13 KOs) will face hard-hitting Fidel "The Atrisco Kid" Maldonado Jr. (19-2, 16 KOs) in a 10-round fight, promising an undercard full of action on Saturday, Jan. 17at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on SHOWTIME® (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT).

The Jan. 17 "Return To Glory" fight card co-promoted by Don King Productions andGolden Boy Promotions is highlighted by a heavy-duty main-event matchup that has stirred the interest of even the most casual sports fan -- dangerous defending WBC Heavyweight World Champion Bermane "B. Ware" Stiverne (24-1-1, 21 KOs), of Las Vegas by way of Haiti, against unbeaten mandatory challenger Deontay "The Bronze Bomber" Wilder (32-0, 32 KOs) of Tuscaloosa, Ala.

"2015 is going to be a huge year for boxing and Golden Boy's opening act in Las Vegas will get things started with a bang," said Oscar De La Hoya, Founder and President of Golden Boy Promotions.

"In addition to Deontay Wilder looking to bring a heavyweight title back to America for the first time in a decade, longtime favorite Leo Santa Cruz and rising star Fidel Maldonado Jr. -- electric fighters with significant power -- will both appear in separate fights on the undercard, giving boxing fans a chance to see three top stars in action on a single card."

All-action and two-division world champion Santa Cruz, of Los Angeles, Calif., will be making his fourth defense of the 122-pound title he won with a third-round knockout over Victor "Vikingo" Terrazas (37-3-1, 21 KOs) on Aug. 24, 2013. Santa Cruz, 26, is coming off of a second-round technical knockout over Manuel "Suavecito" Roman (17-3-3, 17 KOs) on Sept. 13 at MGM Grand.

Before stepping up a notch in weight, Santa Cruz was the IBF Bantamweight World Champion, winning that belt in June 2012 and making three defenses. An excellent body puncher who is at his best when he keeps up a relentless pace, pressures his opponents and wears them down, Santa Cruz is 7-0 with three knockouts in world title fights.

Santa Cruz, who's as personable and courteous outside the ring as he is ferocious and determined inside, said, "I feel great about my upcoming fight with Ruiz.  He is a strong fighter, undefeated in the past two years and the kind of opponent I want to fight."

"I want to put on a great show on Jan. 17," Santa Cruz continued. "And show boxing fans that I am a strong fighter ready to go to the next level and take on the top, tough fighters in the division: Guillermo Rigondeaux,  Scott Quigg, Carl Frampton and Abner Mares."

Jesus Ruiz of, Nogales, Sonora, Mexico, retired his amateur status at the tender age of 16. He has won five in a row, including a clear 10-round decision in perhaps a career-best performance over Leonilo "Veneno" Miranda (36-7, 33 KOs) in his most recent start on Nov. 7, 2014.

A professional since November of 2006, the 25-year-old  Ruiz will be getting the opportunity of a lifetime in just his third start in the United States (and third outside of Mexico). He won a lopsided eight-round decision over Enrique "Cuate" Quevedo (16-7-1, 10 KOs) on Aug. 24, 2013, in Cabazon, Calif., after losing his U.S. debut on an upset split decision in Tucson, Ariz., in July of 2008.

"I want thank Golden Boy Promotions and SHOWTIME  for this great opportunity to fight for the world title," said  Ruiz. "I know many believe I have no chance, but I am well prepared and ready to give my all. I am  ready for war and ready to leave it all in the ring like a true Mexican warrior."

Like the heavyweights in the main event, Albany, New York native, Amir Imam(pronounced "EE-mom") and Fidel Maldonado Jr., of Albuquerque, New Mexico, are not accustomed to putting in a full night's work. Between them they have gone the distance only six times in a combined 37 fights.

"Amir Imam is a great kid and a very exciting fighter, and this is going to be a very exciting fight," said Hall of Fame promoter Don King. "I think Amir is going to be the next Tito Trinidad.  He can both box and punch and he is going to be a bad man.  I want a title for Amir and this fight with Maldonado is en route to that."

"This is by far the biggest fight of my career and I've got to show the world what I've got,'' Imam said. "I know that Maldonado is a southpaw and he comes forward and throws a lot of punches. I plan on boxing the kid for 10 rounds, but if the opportunity for a KO comes then I will go get it.  I'm not letting anyone take this opportunity away from me.  I have worked too hard for it."

"Maldonado had a great amateur background, he's very smart and he's a very good fighter. It's going to be a great fight," said Imam's head trainer Stacey McKinley. "Maldonado's fought a better class of fighters than Amir but never fought a fighter like Amir and most have not.  He's not strong enough for Amir and Amir will walk straight through him. Amir will be Don King's next superstar."

Imam, an amateur standout and silver medalist at the 2011 U.S. Olympic Trials, "doesn't get paid for overtime" in the professional ranks as 11 of his fights ended in rounds one or two.

The 24-year-old has steadily improved as his professional career has progressed and is 2-0 on ShoBox: The New Generation. In what was expected to be his toughest test, Imamknocked out Jeremy "Hollywood" Bryan (17-5, 7 KOs) in the second round of his  ShoBox debut on April 12, 2013.

Since the Bryan blowout, Imam's taken a big step up in competition, most notably in his last three fights, beginning with a fourth-round stoppage of then-undefeated Jared "The Quiet Storm" Robinson (14-0) on Feb. 21, 2014, in Cleveland on ShoBox; the followingMay 10 on a unanimous eight-round decision over Yordenis Ugas (15-3, 7 KOs) (it was Imam's first fight to go the distance since his pro debut in November 2011); and most recently, last Dec. 13 when he stopped Santos "El Toro" Benavides (23-6-2, 17 KOs) in the sixth round.

Maldonado Jr., 23, is a tough, hard-nosed, aggressive-minded left-hander who'd won six straight, five by knockout, before his last outing ended in a third round no contest against Fernando "Picapiedra" Silva  on Dec. 20, 2014, in Cancun, Mexico.

"I have been training hard since my last fight against Fernando Silva, and have had no time off," said Maldonado Jr. "I am ready to get the job done, and I hope he is ready.  My goal is to show fans that I can put on a great show, step up the competition and get ready for a title match one fight at a time."

The NC stopped some of the momentum Maldonado Jr. had regained in the previous 18 months, since suffering his second pro loss on a disputed 10-round split decision to fellow prospect Michael "The Artist" Perez (21-1-2, 10 KOs) on Aug. 24, 2012, on ShoBox in Indio, Calif. Maldonado Jr. was out-boxed and clearly behind on points early but rallied to floor and hurt Perez badly with the last punch of the hotly contested fight in which Maldonado Jr. felt he was robbed.

[caption id="attachment_4157" align="alignnone" width="1800"] Photo: Esther Lin[/caption]

If referee Tony Weeks had a hard time separating Mickey Bey and Miguel Vazquez, referee Robert Byrd had quick job done on Santa Cruz-Roman bout.

As expected, Leo Santa Cruz made a quick work over the extremely over-matched Manuel Roman. He successfully defended the super bantamweight title, stopping Roman in Round 2 with a short right hand that landed on the button.

Roman went down, although he was able to got up, but he's in no position to continue the fight. Referee Byrd did the mandatory ten count and eventually stopped the fight.

Santa Cruz told Showtime's Jim Gray that he is not afraid to fight Guillermo Rigondeux. Rigo is the Transnational Boxing Ranking Board's champion at the super bantamweight division.