The bantamweight division is full of names that are hard to pronounce. Sometimes I feel as if I need to have my tongue severed or twisted in order to correctly pronounciate the names of the men who patrol the 118 pound landscape. Then there is Abner Mares, a name which rolls so easily off of my bilingual tongue.
All kidding aside…
Mares is one of the few fighters which Golden Boy Promotions has successfully developed from the get go. The fighting pride of Hawaiian Gardens is not one of De La Hoya’s long toothed free agent signings or a name on his endless list of equity partners, but instead Abner is the ONE jewel in the Golden Boy’s crown which was fully developed by the promotional firm.
Golden Boy Promotions stars are getting old.
De La Hoya is in his final year and making a push to fight three times in ’08, starting with a May date against Steve Forbes. Shane Mosley is in his mid-30s and also fighting in May against BK’s Bad Boy Zab Judah. Forty-something Bernard Hopkins goes against U.K. Pound for Pound standout Joe Calzaghe in a few weeks. Golden Boy’s dog and pony show is getting old and boring and the promotion needs fresh new faces to step up, fight, put asses in the seats, and glue eyeballs to the tube at home.
Abner Mares is Golden Boy’s one prospect within striking distance of headlining big time shows but the twenty-two year old trained by Ignacio ?Nacho? Beristain still needs in the ring aging and a few more battles on television to assist in the construction of his star. In a sea of mainly Asian names, Mares needs to stand out and fight in captivating fights.
Enter grizzled Filipino fighter Gerry Pe?alosa.
This weekend in his homeland, Pe?alosa defeated Ratanachai Sor Vorapin by 8th round knockout. Arguably the best bantamweight in the world, Pe?alosa has been in search of a rematch with super bantamweight Daniel Ponce De Leon after losing a questionable decision to the Mexican in their March, 2007 fight.
With De Leon ducking and dodging Pe?alosa for several months, Mares might be the man to refuel the Mexico – Philippines boxing rivalry. Mares is expected to carry Golden Boy’s banner for years to come and the step up in competition will be coming sooner than later. Pe?alosa makes a perfect opponent and a television friendly fight which would be an easy sell to the boxing suits at HBO.
Pe?alosa would find himself in a strong negotiating position, being that the crowd at bantamweight is heavily Asian and not willing to come to fight in the United States. Mares is unlikely to fight overseas without television and Pe?alosa has no qualms about fighting in the U.S.
Analyzing the bout from the perspective of Eric Gomez, Vice President of Golden Boy and matchmaker, Pe?alosa would be a risky proposition for Mares due to the great advantage in experience on the pinoy’s part. But sooner or later, prospects must be tested and a thirty-five year old veteran like Pe?alosa ? crafty as he may be ? is going to look old in the ring sooner than later.
While fellow Mexican Martin Castillo has been mentioned as possible fight for Mares on the under card of Mosley vs. Judah, nothing has been announced officially. Even if Castillo vs Mares is made a reality, it would not be considered a strong test for Mares as Castillo would be jumping up in weight from super flyweight for the fight, is coming off a humiliating defeat against Fernando Montiel, and a naturally smaller man; the fight would just be another round of seasoning for Mares.
Something tells me that Mares first test will come at the hands of Gerry Pe?alosa later this year.
