Abner Mares


Abner Mares Martínez is a Mexican-American professional boxer. He has held multiple world championships in three weight classes, including the IBF bantamweight title from 2011 to 2012, the WBC super bantamweight title from 2012 to 2013, the WBC featherweight title in 2013, and the WBA featherweight title from 2016 to 2018. As an amateur, Mares won numerous medals at international tournaments while representing Mexico. He grew up in the city of Hawaiian Gardens, California and holds dual citizenship with the United States and Mexico.

Early life

Mares was born in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico and at age seven his family moved to the city of Hawaiian Gardens, California. At age fifteen he was sent back to Mexico by his father.

Amateur career

As an amateur, Mares compiled a record of 112-8 with 84 KOs. Mares won the U17 World Championships and the bantamweight gold medal at the Central American games 2002 beating Juan Manuel López and the silver medal in the same division in 2003 at the Pan American Games in Santo Domingo.
At the Junior World Championships 2004, he finished second losing to Aibek Abdimomunov.
He participated in the 2004 Summer Olympics for his native country. There he was beaten in the first round of the Bantamweight division by Hungary's Zsolt Bedák in a highly controversial decision.

Amateur highlights

In January 2005, Mares won his professional debut against Puerto Rican Luis Malave.

Bantamweight

On September 7, 2007, he won the WBO NABA Bantamweight Championship by defeating former WBO Champion Isidro García. Mares won his next three bouts before suffering an eye injury which required him to undergo surgery. He returned to the ring 10 months later by stopping Jonathan Perez. He had been trained as a professional by Hall of Famer Ignacio Beristain, however, the two split after Mares changed promotional companies.

Mares vs. Perez

On May 22, 2010, Mares challenged undefeated IBF Bantamweight Champion and the No. 4 ranked Bantamweight Yonnhy Perez for his title. The bout ended in a 12-round majority draw with one judge scoring it 115-113 in favor of Mares while the other two scored it 114-114 even. The majority of the press at ringside scored the bout in favor of Mares.
This marked the launch and the climb to success with world-famous trainer, Clemente Medina.

Bantamweight Tournament

Mares vs. Darchinyan
Golden Boy Promotions announced that Mares would be taking part in Showtime's four-man single elimination bantamweight tournament, which would also include Vic Darchinyan, Joseph Agbeko and Yonnhy Perez.
In the first round of the tournament, Mares faced IBO Bantamweight Champion Vic Darchinyan and defeated him by a highly controversial 12 round split decision to claim the IBO Championship title and WBC Silver title.
Mares vs. Agbeko I
Mares was scheduled to face IBF Champion and No. 3 ranked Joseph Agbeko in the final round of the tournament on April 23, 2011. However, Agbeko pulled out of the fight just days prior citing an injury. The match was rescheduled for August 13, 2011. Mares fought Agbeko on August 13 on Showtime and won the title and the tournament by majority decision. However, the match was not without controversy, as Mares delivered numerous low blows during the match, with referee Russell Mora not penalizing him with point deductions for any of the blows throughout the match. The most infamous of these blows came during the 11th round of the fight, in which a low blow from Mares landed on Agbeko's cup, causing Agbeko to drop. While the low blow was clearly visible to everyone, referee Mora ruled it as a knockdown.

Mares vs. Agbeko II

On December 3, 2011, Mares and Agbeko fought a rematch due to their controversial first fight. While the second fight proved to be much less controversial, there were still several low blow warnings from the referee to Mares. Though Agbeko had moments in the fight where he outboxed Mares from the outside, Mares closed the distance and outworked Agbeko throughout the fight, and landed the more significant punches. Mares was awarded a unanimous decision win, by the scores of 118-110 from all three judges..

Super Bantamweight

Super Bantamweight title

In Mares' next fight, he moved up to the super bantamweight division, fighting former world champion Eric Morel for the vacant WBC Super Bantamweight title. The fight took place on April 21, 2012, at a catchweight of 120 lbs. Mares effectively out worked, landed more, and landed the harder punches throughout the fight, with Morel showing significant signs of his age. Mares won a unanimous decision by the scores of 120-107, 119-109, and 119-109 to claim his first Super Bantamweight title.

Mares vs. Moreno

Mares' next fight took place on November 10, 2012, against the world No. 1 ranked bantamweight and then No.10 pound-for-pound Anselmo Moreno. Mares started the fight off fast, applying relentless pressure on Moreno, forcing Moreno to the ropes for the majority of the early rounds. Moreno still had his moments while the two were in the middle of the ring, landing clean shots, while Mares attempted to out work Moreno and attack his body while on the ropes. In the 5th round, Moreno was having success staying off the ropes when he could, and out boxing Mares in the center of the ring. Near the end of the round, Mares trapped Moreno on the ropes and landed a hard straight right hand, which ultimately sent Moreno to the canvas for the first time in his career. The following middle rounds of the fight, Mares seemed in control working the body and landing his hard overhand right, relentless pressuring Moreno for the majority of the rounds. In the 11th round, Moreno was docked a point for pushing Mares' head down while Mares rushed him on the ropes. This was seen as very controversial, given that Mares and Moreno both had been warned several times throughout the fight and only Moreno was docked a point. After the point deduction, Moreno effectively out pointed Mares in the middle of the ring during the final rounds and even successfully traded with Mares against the ropes, while Mares seemed to tire the final couple rounds.
Mares was awarded the Unanimous decision by the scores of 116-110, 116-110, and 120-106.

Featherweight

Mares vs. De Leon

Mares moved up to 126 lbs to fight WBC Featherweight champion and Ring No. 2 ranked Featherweight, Daniel Ponce de León in the Mayweather-Guerrero undercard on May 4, 2013, and knocked down de León in the second and ninth rounds en route to handing him a TKO loss at 2:20 of the ninth round, winning the WBC featherweight title in the process.

Mares vs. Gonzalez

Mares defended his WBC Featherweight title against Jhonny Gonzalez on August 24, 2013, at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Mares lost the fight in a first-round TKO to the underdog former champion Jhonny González. The referee stopped the fight after Mares was knocked down for the second time in the first round.
Mares would leave his management company, Espinoza Boxing Club, as well as trainer Clemente Medina. He would train with Virgil Hunter for his next fight before returning to Clemente Medina.

Professional boxing record

No.ResultRecordOpponentTypeRound, timeDateLocationNotes
35Loss31–3–1 Léo Santa CruzUD12Jun 9, 2018 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.For WBA featherweight title
34Win31–2–1 Andrés GutiérrezTD10, 2:40Oct 14, 2017 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.Retained WBA featherweight title
33Win30–2–1 Jesús CuellarSD12Dec 10, 2016 Galen Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Won WBA featherweight title
32Loss29–2–1 Léo Santa CruzMD12Aug 29, 2015 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.For vacant WBA featherweight title
31Win29–1–1 Arturo Santos ReyesUD10Mar 7, 2015 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
30Win28–1–1 Jose RamirezRTD5, 3:00Dec 13, 2014 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
29Win27–1–1 Jonathan OquendoUD10Jul 12, 2014 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
28Loss26–1–1 Jhonny GonzálezTKO1, 1:55Aug 24, 2013 StubHub Center, Carson, California, U.S.Lost WBC featherweight title
27Win26–0–1 Daniel Ponce de LeónTKO9, 2:20May 4, 2013 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Won WBC featherweight title
26Win25–0–1 Anselmo MorenoUD12Nov 10, 2012 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.Retained WBC super bantamweight title
25Win24–0–1 Eric MorelUD12Apr 21, 2012 Don Haskins Center, El Paso, Texas, U.S.Won vacant WBC super bantamweight title
24Win23–0–1 Joseph AgbekoUD12Dec 3, 2011 Honda Center, Anaheim, California, U.S.Retained IBF and WBC Silver bantamweight titles
23Win22–0–1 Joseph Agbeko12Aug 13, 2011 The Joint, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBC Silver bantamweight title;
Won IBF bantamweight title
22Win21–0–1 Vic Darchinyan12Dec 11, 2010 Emerald Queen Casino, Tacoma, Washington, U.S.Won IBO and vacant WBC Silver bantamweight titles
21Draw20–0–1 Yonnhy Pérez12May 22, 2010 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.For IBF bantamweight title
20Win20–0 Felipe AlmanzaKO5, 2:23Mar 25, 2010 Club Nokia, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
19Win19–0 Carlos FulgencioKO6, 2:46Aug 27, 2009 Club Nokia, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
18Win18–0 Jonathan PerezRTD6, 3:00May 2, 2009 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
17Win17–0 Jonathan AriasUD10Jun 27, 2008 Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, California, U.S.
16Win16–0 Diosdado GabiTKO2, 0:49Mar 15, 2008 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.Retained WBO–NABO bantamweight title
15Win15–0 Damian David MarchianoUD12Nov 17, 2007 Borgata, Atlantic City, New Jersey, U.S.Retained WBO–NABO bantamweight title
14Win14–0 Isidro GarcíaRTD7, 3:00Sep 7, 2007 Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.Won vacant WBO–NABO bantamweight title
13Win13–0 Saul GutierrezUD6Jul 6, 2007 Convention Center, McAllen, Texas, U.S.
12Win12–0 Angel Antonio PrioloTKO6, 1:56Apr 20, 2007 Cicero Stadium, Cicero, Illinois, U.S.
11Win11–0 Robert Allanic8, 3:00Mar 2, 2007 New Alhambra Arena, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
10Win10–0 Wilmer RodriguezTKO4, 1:45Nov 25, 2006 Dodge Arena, Hidalgo, Texas, U.S.
9Win9–0 Kevin HudginsUD8Sep 15, 2006 Aragon Ballroom, Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
8Win8–0 Omar AdornoUD8Feb 24, 2006 Mandalay Bay Events Center, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
7Win7–0 Yamin MohammadUD8Dec 16, 2005 Convention Center, Austin, Texas, U.S.
6Win6–0 Selso BosquezTKO4, 2:35Sep 17, 2005 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
5Win5–0 Elvis Luciano MartinezTKO3, 2:45Jul 16, 2005 MGM Grand Garden Arena, Paradise, Nevada, U.S.
4Win4–0 Baladan TrevizoTKO5, 1:15Jun 16, 2005 Sundance Square, Fort Worth, Texas, U.S.
3Win3–0 David Vasquez6Apr 29, 2005 Entertainment Center, Laredo, Texas, U.S.
2Win2–0 Francisco Soto5, 2:47Feb 19, 2005 Staples Center, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
1Win1–0 Luis Malave2, 2:00Jan 6, 2005 Desert Diamond Casino, Tucson, Arizona, U.S.

Video references