Former featherweight titlist Abner Mares does not currently have anything lined up for himself on the boxing schedule, and reports suggest that he may wait until the end of the year before making his final appearance for 2015.
However, Mares says that he wants to fight for a world title more than anything, and he will do so as soon as it is possible.
Mares was in attendance for Jesus Cuellar’s eighth-round KO victory over Vic Darchinyan at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Cuellar was asked about defending his WBA “regular” title against Mares, but he made it clear that Mares needs to earn the shot first.
However, according to Mares he has no interest in fighting Cuellar for what he considers a lesser title and would rather fight for a “full” world title.
Mares still favors a fight with Leo Santa Cruz even though he does not own a world title at the featherweight division and only recently moved up from junior featherweight.
“My focus is not on [Cuellar]. I got my eye on Leo Santa Cruz, I got my eyes on a possible fight against WBC champion Gary Russell,” Mares told Fernando Pimentel of ThaBoxingVoice.
A fight between Mares and Leo Santa Cruz would be huge and the fight was being heavily disgust amongst fans that have grown tired of Santa Cruz’s lack of competition in recent fights.
It appeared as though the fight would be next up for both fighters, but that talk has died down and we could likely see the fight pushed to 2016 if ever.
Mares claims he has no idea why the fight isn’t being made but maintains the fact that he still wants the fight, although he has no intent on waiting around for Santa Cruz and would rather fight for Gary Russell Jr.’s WBC world title, the title he lost to Jhonny Gonzalez.
“Honestly, I don’t know. I know I’m with it, and I’m ready for the fight, as you guys know I said it live on the radio and I’ve been screaming it loud. He says he’s ready, but I haven’t’ seen or heard of him talking to my manager. Hopefully that fight happens.
“I’m not waiting for him, hopefully I get that Russell fight because I asked for that Russell fight. Maybe after that win, God willing, will do a big fight against Russell,” Mares said.
Mares at one time was insistent on getting his revenge on Gonzalez, who handed Mares his first loss. While Mares still wants to get that rematch one day, it is based more on personal reasons. Now, Mares feels like it makes better business sense to fight Russell for his world title.
In the same interview with ThaBoxingVoice, Mares actually said that world titles are “what matter” in boxing today. That is a noble idea, but it isn’t always the case. Mares would be better off fighting Santa Cruz, and if he is going to wait around for a significant fight then that is the desired fight he should wait for.
