Saturday night at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, former two-division champion Jhonny Gonzalez (55-8, 47 KOs) silenced his critics by flattening Abner Mares (26-1-1, 14 KOs) at 2:55 of the first round to win the WBC featherweight title.
Fighting out of the red corner in blue trunks with gold trim, the 31-year-old Gonzalez, a former two-division champion, told whoever would listen that he was no steppingstone, and that if anyone was going to be stepped on it would be Abner Mares.
The 27-year-old Mares, fighting out blue corner in black trunks trimmed with green, white and red, is a young man but old school fighter who was on a roll. He has ducked no one and his march to greatness was supposed to continue Saturday night.
Every loss is devastating, but some losses are more devastating than others. The heavily favored Mares, from nearby Montebello, California, was just warming up in the first, a round where both fighters were feeling each other out, when from out of the blue Gonzalez landed a picture perfect left hook that separated Mares from his senses.
Mares never saw it coming and went down hard. He managed to climb to his feet and beat the count, but his legs were gone, his brain was scrambled, and he made the mistake of fighting Gonzalez, instead of holding on to buy time.
Mares was vulnerable and open to being caught again, which is exactly what happened. A barrage of punches from Gonzalez put him on the canvas a second time. This time, referee Jack Reiss didn?t bother to count. There was no need. Mares? eyes told him everything he needed to know.
Having won back the crown he lost to Daniel Ponce De Leon in Sept. 2012, Gonzalez was basking in his victory.
?Nobody believed in me,? he said. ?As soon as I arrived in Los Angeles, everyone was against me. There were issues with the bandage, they were saying I couldn?t fight, and only Nacho Beristain and my corner thought I could win this fight. Nacho Beristain has been fundamental to my victory. He was always in my corner and that?s why I have the belt today. Abner Mares is definitely a great champion. He will recover from this loss and will be a champion again. After I saw that I knocked him down I said I better take care of him now because he can recuperate and I didn?t want that to happen.?
Mares was no less gracious than Gonzalez. After offering his congratulations, Mares said, ?I?m happy that a friend won the title. He was the best. I?m not letting it get to me so far. You win some, you lose some. You learn how to win. You learn how to lose too. I?m in this sport not to go and hold an outstanding undefeated record. I want to fight the best. If I can get a rematch or even a tougher fight I?m ready. I?m just here to fight.?
