LOS ANGELES: World Boxing Association featherweight champion Leo Santa Cruz defends his crown Saturday (Sunday in Manila) against fellow Mexican Rafael Rivera while taking inspiration from his father’s ongoing fight against cancer.

Santa Cruz, 35-1-1 with 19 knockouts, will face Rivera, 26-2-2 with 17 knockouts, in the feature of a Los Angeles card with Rivera as a late fill-in for original challenger Miguel Flores, lost to an ankle injury last month.