Mares Destroys Gabi In 2nd Round TKO

By Nate Anderson: Undefeated bantamweight contender Abner Mares (16-0, 10 KOs) destroyed an overmatched Diosdado Gabi (30-4-1, 21 KOs) in the 2nd round of a scheduled 12-round bout for the WBO NABO bantamweight title on Saturday night at the
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Mares, 22, knocked Gabi down twice in the second round, prompting for referee Jay Nady to stop the one-sided slaughter at 0:49 of the 2nd round moments after Gabi had been knocked down for the second time in the round.

The first round was reasonably close, as Gabi looked impressive throwing combinations to the head and body of Mares. However, near the end of the first round, Mares, ranked #3 in the WBO bantamweight division, staggered Gabi with a right hand. In fact, it was the first right that Mares had thrown in the fight, and Gabi seemed not to ready for it after Mares had started so slowly. Mares landed a brief flurry before the bell, but didn’t have enough time to attempt to finish him off.

In the second round, Mares immediately landed a jab, left to the head, followed by a straight right hand that dropped Gabi to the canvas. He then struggled to his feet, but was badly hurt and barely able to stand without wavering from one side to the other. The referee Jay Nady must have been feeling charitable, for he let the fight continue when most referees would have stopped it right then and there seeing that Gabi was seemingly in no condition to continue fighting. After the action resumed, Mares charged after Gabi and hit him with a brief flurry, ending with another right hand that caused Gabi to stagger backwards and fall to the canvas for the second time in the round. This time, Nady stepped in and stopped the bout at 0:49 of the second round.