Abner Mares vacates title and steps up to featherweight!

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97. 

Has Abner made the right decision?

I have to be honest, I was slightly disappointed when I saw someone share this news on Twitter. Mainly because it means that another super-fight is going to be passed by in Nonito Donaire Vs Abner Mares, but also because I do genuinely believe it is too early for Mares.

If you haven't heard already, highly-rated Mexican Abner Mares has chose to vacate his WBC super-bantamweight world title and is stepping up in weight to fight at featherweight. Mares has stated on many occasions that he was only sticking around at 122lb if a fight with the division's No.1 and pound-for-pound contender Nonito Donaire was made. And with Donaire Vs Rigondeaux looking likely for April, I guess he just got fed up of waiting and decided to finally take the step up. I say "finally" but I do think this is way too early for 'Lil Abner.'

With only two fights at super-bantamweight against extremely talented, but smaller guys (Anselmo Moreno and Eric Morel), there's still a lot for him to do at the weight. A fight with either Rigondeaux or Donaire would have came at one point and there's other fighters there that may not be as talented, but still have big names. Fights with Wilfredo Vazquez Jr, Scott Quigg, Carl Frampton and even Leo Santa Cruz would all have been mouth-watering match-ups and big paydays for the 27-year old.

The other problem is his size. At only 5"4 he is going to find himself coming up against a lot taller and physically bigger guys. I know he's got a lot of strength but does he have enough to out-muscle and grind out victories against top-class featherweights such as Mikey Garcia, Chris John and Daniel Ponce De Leon? That's a question that currently has no answer, but I'm sure it will do soon. Because we know with a guy like Abner Mares he will be straight in there with the elite guys in the division and looking to win even more titles.

Is this a wise move from the young superstar or is it a risk that just isn't worth taking at this current time? Can the two-weight world champion make it three out of three weight divisions at featherweight?

Abner Mares considering a move to featherweight!

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97. 

WBC super-bantamweight world champion Abner Mares is considering a move up in weight if a unification bout with WBO champ Nonito Donaire cannot be made.

"My promoter (Golden Boy) and Top Rank said they are pushing for this fight, but to be frank I'm hopeful that someday they can do it and it disappoints me a lot, because it's a big fight for me and people want it," Mares told Rene Umanzor of The Record. "In my division there is nothing but opponents who are just coming up, and I do not want to be (a) step (for them). I want to fight the best, and right now I (I'm thinking about moving to featherweight) to face a champion in that division."

Golden Boy's chief promoter Oscar De La Hoya recently went on record saying that he would love to stage a fight between Mares and IBF bantamweight champ Leo Santa Cruz. Mares, 27, claims that he is willing to face Cruz but would much rather take on Donaire.

De La Hoya looking to stage Mares Vs Cruz!

By Jack Price @PriceyJ97

Oscar De La Hoya, president of Golden Boy Promotions is eager to make a fight between WBC super-bantamweight champion Abner Mares and IBF bantamweight world champ Leo Santa Cruz.

Both men are unbeaten and, although  they're world champions, they still are far away from the peak of their careers, but this does seem like a fight that is likely to happen. Both fighters are promoted by Golden Boy and are happy to fight as many times as possible at this current time.

Cruz (23-0-1, 13 KO's) has been interested in fighting Mares for a very long time, and has made this clear in almost every one of the five post-fight interviews he has had in 2012. However this isn't the No.1 priority on Mares' list. The 27-year old is targeting super-bantamweight king and pound-for-pound contender Nonito Donaire. Unfortunately there isn't much chance of this fight happening as Donaire is promoted by Golden Boy's main rivals Top Rank.

Rigondeaux looks fantastic yet again!

Rigondeaux just before landing a devastating blow on Kenndey.

Yesterday (June 9th) we all had the privilege to watch the young Cuban superstar Guillermo Rigondeaux in action on the undercard of Manny Pacquiao Vs Timothy Bradley.

The 31-year old has had just 10 professional fights and he is already good enough to compete with some of the top fighters in the world. He became super-bantamweight world champion after just 9 fights. He has looked untouchable so far in his career and his record as an amateur was one of the best you will ever see. 'The Jackal' won 243 out of 247 fights. Now that shows that the guy can box.

In his fight last night, he had a slight step up in class against Teon Kennedy (18-2). But it was the same old solid performance from Rigondeaux yet again. The WBA champ knocked Kennedy down five times and finally stopped him in the fifth round. If he would have gone in like a mad man he could have probably finished it much earlier but he showed his composure and did not make any mistakes. I don't think Kennedy landed a punch throughout the whole fight.

It's time now for Rigondeaux to step up his level of opposition. I know it's strange to say that for a guy who has only had 10 fights but I am already considering him as a top-class fighter in the world right now.

Personally, I think a great fight would be between him and Anselmo Moreno, if he decides to move up from bantamweight. Whilst Rigondeaux would provide a stern challenge for the pound-for-pound contender Nonito Donaire, he is not yet ready to fight somebody like him.

Whatever happens in the near future... We can no doubt expect a very bright future for Guillermo Rigondeaux.

Anselmo Moreno wants Nonito Donaire...

Bantamweight world champion Anselmo Moreno.

WBA bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno has expressed a big interest in fighting pound-for-pound contender Nonito Donaire.

Nonito Donaire.

Moreno won in excellent style in the early hours of Sunday morning against David De La Mora. This fight showed the world just how good he is. After the fight Moreno called out Donaire and questioned whether the 'Filipino Flash' had the courage to fight him.

"I have the same advisor as Sergio Martinez and if Chavez Jr fights Martinez, I would love to fight on the undercard against Nonito Donaire, if he has the courage to confront me. I hope that I won't have as much trouble as Martinez has," said Moreno.

Unfortunately this fight will most likely not happen as there are a few big problems. The main problem being that Donaire is promoted by Top Rank and and Moreno is promoted by Golden Boy and any boxing fan will know that these two promotion companies do not go well together. Another reason is that Donaire likes fighters that come towards him and are just there to be hit but Moreno is the complete opposite to that. He likes to box and look good whilst doing it.

Moreno may just be calling him out just to keep his name in the headlines and maybe increase interest in himself but I genuinely believe that he does want to fight him. The world champion is definitely on the verge of world class and one fight with a highly rated fighter may announce him as one of the best in the world.

Many people want to see him move up to 122lb to fight Abner Mares. This fight is much more likely to happen and although it wont be as good as Moreno Vs Donaire, it will still be very exciting to watch.