(Exclusive Interview by Jenna J & Geoffrey Ciani) ? This week?s 136th edition of On the Ropes Boxing Radio(brought to you by CWH Promotions) featured an exclusive interview with undefeatedbantamweight contender Abner Mares (21-0-1, 13 KOs) who is scheduled to face IBF Champion King Kong Agbeko (28-2, 22 KOs) in the Bantamweight Tournament Final on August 13. Mares spoke about his upcoming mega fight against Agbeko, and also shared his views on other aspects of the current bantamweight landscape. Here is a complete transcript of that interview:
JENNA J: We?re joined by undefeated bantamweight contender, Abner Mares. How?s everything going, Abner?
ABNER MARES: I?m doing great. Thank you. I?m doing really good. It?s hot out in L.A. right now.
JENNA: Alright well you are less than two weeks away from your big matchup with Joseph Agbeko. What are you expecting?
MARES: I?m expecting a great fight. I can?t wait I?m really excited for this. We?re talking about a world title, winning my first world title fight and I?m really excited. To top it off it?s in Vegas, so I?m really looking forward to it.
JENNA: Well the fight was originally supposed to happen back in April and it was very close to that fight when it got called off. Do you have any fears that something like that could happen again?
MARES: You know what? Yes. I was talking about that with my friendMonica. She was like oh it?s so exciting! We?re getting close to the fight! I just told her I don?t want to get too happy because last fight at around this same time is when things got really bad. I mean I try not to think about it. I know everything is going work out smoothly. God willing let?s just hope it does for the sake of myself and the fans.
JENNA: I talked to Joseph Agbeko before and he said he doesn?t feel that there is going to be any adverse effects from the back injury. Do you think that will be the case, that he will be as good as he was before?
MARES: I hope he is and I hope he does. I don?t know. I have no experience with what he had. I know some people that had it and they told me that it comes and goes. So I really don?t know. I?m not going to think about it because I just want to think that he?s ready 100% as a normal athlete and fighter. I expect a tough fight and I just don?t think about his problems.
JENNA: Okay well there is a lot of debate among boxing fans deciding whether or not this fight here should really be for the bantamweight title, the Ring Magazine title, and a legitimate claim to the bantamweight championship. Do you think the winner of this tournament deserves that recognition or do you think the winner would actually have to fight Nonito Donaire who has two belts?
MARES: It would be great. It would be good to fight, either of us. God willing myself, I come out victorious or him, however it works out. It?s only right to fight Nonito or any other top bantamweight out there because we?re blessed to have a jam-packed division with great fighters. Like you named Nonito, he?s one of the pound-for-pound best. So who wouldn?t like to fight him because he carries that torch, that belt as a pound-for-pound. Meaning if you beat this guy you?re the best in that weight class, but we entered this tournament. This tournament is called the best bantamweight out there. I mean all of these guys were invited. They couldn?t join for I have no idea what reasons. I don?t blame them. It?s only right that the winner of Agbeko and myself is called the best bantamweight out there. If not, let?s make a fight with whoever?s the best out there. This is just for the fans. I mean the fights are for the fans, so whoever it is either Joseph or myself is ready for it.
