Abner Mares ready for Jesus Cuellar fight

By Boxing News - 10/18/2016 - Comments

1-Cellar-Mares Press Conference_Presser_Scott Hirano _ Showtime _ Premier Boxing Champions10

By Eric Baldwin: Former three division world champion Abner Mares (29-2-1, 15 KOs) has reportedly passed his California medical exams, and he’s reportedly ready for his title shot against WBA World featherweight champion Jesus Andres Cuellar (28-1, 21 KOs) as soon as Premier Boxing Champions can give him a date to fight.

The 30-year-old Mares has had eye problems that has slowed his progress making it back into the ring. But with Mares passing his California eye exam, according to Lance Pugmire of the LA Times, he can move ahead and take the fight with the hard hitting 29-year-old Argentinian Cuellar.

“Told Abner Mares has passed his California medical exams, including vision, and now all he needs from PBC is date for Jesus Cuellar BOX,” said Pugmire on his Twitter.

Abner hasn’t fought since losing to Leo Santa Cruz by a 12 round majority decision last August in a failed effort to capture the World Boxing Association featherweight title. Mares tried his best to win the fight, but Santa Cruz was able to dominate the second half of the contest with his long jab. Mares didn’t have an answer for Santa Cruz’s jab.

Mares might have problems matching up with the huge power of Cuellar, because he’s not a natural featherweight like him. Mares started his career in 2005 as a bantamweight, and he’s slowly moved up division after division after winning world titles.

Since moving up to featherweight in 2013, Mares has not looked as good as he once did, as he was knocked out in one round by Jhonny Gonzalez in August 2013. After that defeat, Mares won his next three fights against Jonathan Oquendo, Jose Ramirez and Arturo Santos Reyes. Those were all considered mismatches, and they used up a year of Mares’ career. He then fought Santa Cruz last year and lost that fight.

Mares has now been out of the ring for the past 14 months since losing to Santa Cruz. If Mares isn’t going to take a tune-up fight before Cuellar, he could be making a mistake. That fight likely won’t happen soon. If it does, then Mares is going to be at a big disadvantage to the younger, bigger and stronger Cuellar. If Mares’ management at PBC has no options of giving him a tune-up fight to get ready for the Cuellar contest, then he’ll need to try to do the best that he can against the touch champion. It would be a sink or swim type of fight.