By Dan Ambrose: Abner Mares is volunteering to face unbeaten lightweight contender Ryan Garcia at a catchweight. The former three-division world champion Mares (33-3-1, 15 KOs) says he’d be willing to move up from 126 to face the 21-year-old Garcia at a catchweight of 132 1/2 or 133.
By Mares insisting on a catchweight for the Ryan fight, he’s making the fight doesn’t happen. If Mares truly wants the match with Garcia, then he’ll move up to 135 and face him at his own weight that he’s comfortable with.
What would keep Mares from getting a fight against Ryan is the fact that he hasn’t done anything with his career since his loss to Leo Santa Cruz in 2018. Mares has been out of the ring for two years, and he’s been forgotten by fans.
Mares, 34, doesn’t think too highly of Ryan, who he sees as being an “Instagram sensation,” he believes Golden Boy Promotions have protected him with their match-making. Abner says Ryan has been put in “easy fights” to build him up and make him a money-maker for Golden Boy.
It’s hard to argue with Mares’ views on Garcia because he hasn’t been matched tough yet. Although Ryan has fought a small number of top 10 lightweights, he hasn’t fought any of the dangerous guys
These are the top fighters Ryan has faced during his four-year career:
- Francisco Fonseca
- Romero Duno
- Jose Lopez
- Carlos Morales
- Jayson Velez
- Braulio Rodriguez
Mares talks about Golden Boy protecting Ryan Garcia
“Why do I think that De La Hoya is always protecting Ryan Garcia,” said Mares on social media. “We all got to understand that when someone has a name like Ryan Garcia, he’s an Instagram sensation.”
“When you have a manager and promoter, they see money in you. You’re a moneymaker. That’s what we are. So why not protect him. Put him in easy fights and build him up. Sooner or later, they got to fight the top dogs—the wolves,” said Mares on Ryan Garcia.
Golden Boy hasn’t put Ryan in with anyone yet, but they want to match him against former three-division world champion Jorge Linares. However, Ryan’s trainer Eddy Reynoso doesn’t want him to step it up against talented fighters next.
Eventually, Ryan is going to move up against the best at 135, and when that happens, fans can see how good he is.
When Mares turned pro, he was 20-years-old, and he didn’t start fighting quality guys until he was 25. That’s when Mares defeated Yonnhy Perez and Vic Darchinyan. In contrast, the 21-year-old Ryan is a lot younger than Mares, and he’s already fought better competition than he did in his first five years of his career.
Ryan Garcia hasn’t fought anyone
“So I think that’s what’s happening with Ryan Garcia,” said Mares. “The thing with Ryan Garcia is, he thinks he’s invincible and he’s the s***.
“In reality, he hasn’t fought anyone, and that’s why I keep saying it. Homeboy hasn’t fought no one, so he ain’t s*** in boxing.
“You can’t be calling out legends like Henry Cejudo, Linares. You have been calling me out. I’ve been a four-time world champion. What have you done? Make a video where you look pretty hitting the bag, dodging it, and selling the bag. That’s all.
“He can sell s*** on the internet, and he can do it really well. But in boxing, he still hasn’t done anything. That’s all I have to say,” said Mares in talking about Ryan being inexperienced.
The lightweight division is almost completely barren of talented fighters. Other than the champions, the contenders at 135 are beatable.
Mares wants Ryan Garcia at a catchweight
“There’s no title on the line, so you don’t have to make 135,” said Mares when asked if he would be interested in fighting Ryan Garcia at a catchweight. “Yeah, we’ll definitely make it at a catchweight.
“People know I’m coming up from 126 to 135, you know? So if it were to happen, meet me at 132 1/2 or 133. We’ll see what everyone comes up with,” said Mares.
If Golden Boy wants to change from Linares to mares, that could b a good fight for Ryan. It won’t be easy for Ryan because Mares is tough, but he’ll make it hard on him when the time comes.
It’s too bad Mares hasn’t moved up to 135, all ready to take on some of the talented contenders. It looks terrible for Mares to be talking about Ryan when he hasn’t fought in two years.
It’s doubtful that Ryan would agree to fight Mares at a catchweight of 132.5 or 133 because he’s the A-side. Ryan doesn’t have to agree to fight at a catchweight for his fights.
If Mares is going to try and call the shots, he’s not going to get a fight against him. It’s Mares that wants the fight, not Ryan. If Mares wants te fight with Ryan, then he’ll probably need to move up to 135.
