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Leo Santa Cruz: Boxing’s Whirling Dervish

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The term “punches in bunches” was not coined specifically for WBA “super” featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz (31-0-1, 17 KOs), but it definitely applies to the Mexican-born Rosemead, California, resident, whose work rate is fast becoming legendary.

For however long Santa Cruz’s title defense lasts against former IBF super bantamweight champ Kiko Martinez (35-6, 26 KOs) in the Showtime-televised main event at the Honda Center on Saturday in Anaheim, California, it is a virtual certainty he will average right around 100 punches per round -- a nonstop, whirling-dervish attack that has the effect of either forcing opponents to try to match his frenetic output or to expend most of their energy on defense.