By Dan Ambrose: Abner Mares took what appeared to be a verbal shot aimed at Ryan Garcia on Tuesday in response to him calling out UFC bantamweight champion Henry Cejudo.
Without mentioning Ryan’s name, the former three-division world champion Mares (31-3-1, 15 KOs) pointed out that it’s amusing for a fighter that hasn’t done anything in boxing to be challenging a famous UFC fighter.
The 21-year-old Ryan Garcia (20-0, 17 KOs) has only been fighting for four years since turning professional in 2016, and he still hasn’t fought for a world title yet. With that said, boxing fans believe Ryan is a can’t miss prospect, who will soon win a world title.
Ryan didn’t call out Cejudo. He merely asked his fans if they thought the 33-year-old Cejudo would give him a “good fight” if they fought inside the boxing ring. Cejudo didn’t like Ryan mentioning his name, and he fired back a response quickly saying this:
“I’d make you bend the knee in your own sport! Dana White, allow me to fry this fish!”
Mares, 34, hasn’t fought in two years since losing to Leo Santa Cruz by a 12 round unanimous decision in their rematch in June 2018. Since that fight, Mares has been dealing with an eye injury.
For featherweight Mares to face Ryan Garcia, he would need to move up two divisions to battle him at lightweight [135]. Given Mares’ advanced age, inactivity, and injury-related problems, it’s not a good idea for him to fight Ryan.
Ryan Garcia and Abner Mares verbal jousting
Abner Mares: “Funny how fighters are calling out UFC legends when they still haven’t done s*** in their own sport. 🤷🏽♂️ just saying,”
Ryan Garcia: “I find it really funny, Old a** Abner Mares is talking s***. If you want to get knocked out again in the first round, then be my guest, that goes for you to Linares.”
Abner Mares: “My old a** is just getting up what did I missed? And you ain’t knocking no one out and especially the first round.”
“Wake me up when you fight someone decent. Going back to sleep. I need my 10 hours. The doctor recommended for us older men. Oh yeah, good morning 😉”
“And this ain’t even no clout chasing because I ain’t even @ homeboy these are just Facts, is he a good fighter? Yes.
“Is he the future? Well, looks so by the way they [Golden Boy Promotions are] taking his career. Has he done s*** in boxing? Hell No! Other than making the double end bag look easy.”
Ryan has a lot of time on his hands, with the sport being shut down with the pandemic, and he seems to be having fun with his fans. It doesn’t look like Ryan was serious about wanting to fight Cejudo because there would be nothing to gain in such a fight.
Ryan will be fighting on the fourth of July in a Golden Boy Promotions card, possibly against Jorge Linares. This is a step up fight for Ryan to get him ready to take on 135-pound champions Devin Haney and Gervonta Davis. Those are the fighters that Ryan wants to fight.
Mares needs to restart his career
With two years out of the ring, Mares needs to get back in action as soon as possible. If Mares still hasn’t fought by 2021, it might be too late for him to return to the sport as a serious contender.
Although 50-something-year-old former heavyweight champions Mike Tyson and Evander Holyfield are coming out of retirement, they’re not going to be facing elite fighters. They’re coming back for exhibition matches for charity purposes.
If Mares comes back, he would be looking to win another world title, and that may prove impossible for him at his age. Mares was arguably at his best at super bantamweight [122], but that was seven years ago in 2013. At this point in Mares’ career, he probably can’t return to that weight class without draining himself. Moreover, Mares would likely be out of his league against these young lions at 122:
- Emanuel Navarrete
- Murodjon Akhmadaliev
- Rey Vargas
- Brandon Figueroa
