Jeff Gross - Getty Images
Abner Mares wants all the biggest names at 122 pounds. (Photo by Jeff Gross/Getty Images)
Abner Mares, who recently vacated his IBF bantamweight title to move up to 122 pounds, will return to the ring on April 21 in Mexico City, with Showtime televising. Mares will be facing Eric Morel, a fellow Golden Boy fighter, but after that is looking to target the biggest names in the division, according to Sal Rodriguez.
"We've seen all of the fighters at super bantamweight and I'm excited because there are no bad fighters. Personally, I would like a fight against Nonito Donaire, because they say he's the best, but there are others on the list Fernando Montiel, Victor Terrazas, Jorge Arce, Wilfredo Vazquez, Guillermo Rigondeaux and others like my opponent, Eric Morel."
Mares and Morel will apparently both be going up to 122 for their April fight, which could be held at the new stadium in the city, which is set to be opened in the boxing world by Juan Manuel Marquez on April 14.
Mares' manager Frankie Espinoza also touches on this, but the reality is that Mares is going to have a tough time finding big fights at 122 pounds unless he leaves Golden Boy, because four of the names he mentioned (Donaire, Arce, Vazquez, and Rigondeaux) are tied to Top Rank, and top dog Toshiaki Nishioka's promoter works with Top Rank in the United States.
Others have mentioned this on the site, but Mares' deal with Golden Boy is up shortly. They're incredibly proud of Mares, who is the first homegrown Golden Boy fighter to win a major title, and I've got to believe they'll do everything in their power to keep him, but if he can't get the fights he wants, business will come first, and he may move on.
I'm not saying Golden Boy deserves that, because they've done a good job with Mares, who has earned his status with some really good wins, it's just the unfortunate reality of this particular situation. The biggest fights for Mares are against Top Rank guys. It'll be interesting to see where his career takes him in the near future.
0 recs | 6 comments
Even Mares lists Rigondeux is a last option for a fight. Although, I would favor Mares heavily over anyone on that list except Rigondeux. I would still favor Mares over Rigondeux but not by much.
36_chambers_ofdeatH - February 10, 2012
Mares heavily over Donaire??…..okaaayy.
Matt Mosley - February 10, 2012
Well of course excluding that monster Donaire since he is the new Eder Jofre. I was just talking about the other 122 pounders he named because I kind of wrote a comment without reading into it enough.
36_chambers_ofdeatH - February 10, 2012
Espinoza tells me they’re happy with GBP and that “nothing is impossible” when it comes to making fights in the future. I still question what they’ll do when GBP just can’t get them the fights that Top Rank could, but we’ll get to that when we get to it, I guess.
Scott Christ - February 10, 2012
I see Mares like this Eloy Perez guy: very textbook, smart and they usually adapt to the challenges. They may not be the best but I like that they are versatile and have some tricks under their sleeve. Is that what you call a boxer puncher? someone should make an article about this. I have always liked the styles and their peculiarities
boxplatino.com - February 10, 2012
I could see Rigondeaux-Mares happening despite the Top Rank-Golden Boy feud just because both companies might find themselves in a situation where they have no real opponents for these guys. I mean Top Rank just put Rigondeaux in with a Haymon fighter, the first time that’s happened in ages. I’m not sure Mares would necessarily want that fight, but I don’t think it’s as far off the table as Donaire and the rest are.
bachwards - February 10, 2012
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