Santa Cruz and Mares to fight separate opponents on October 14

Featherweight titlists Leo Santa Cruz and Abner Mares will angling for an October 7th rematch, but instead they will be fighting separate opponents on October 14, according to Dan Rafael of espn.com.

If both win, they are supposed to meet in early 2018.

“Yeah, I am a little disappointed because for a second there I thought everything was 100 percent confirmed and I was excited to face him again, but it happens,” Mares said on Friday in the Floyd Mayweather-Conor McGregor media center.

“Whatever comes my way, I’m ready. I was ready for Leo Oct. 7, so regardless, whoever they put in front of me, it’s a fight away from the Leo fight.”