WBC featherweight champion Abner Mares (26-0-1, 14 KO) doesn’t believe in fighting easy opponents. It is almost as if he’s still trying to prove to himself that he’s elite. Boxing fans appreciate his willingness to tangle with tough fighters, and that trend continues on Saturday, Aug. 24 when he takes on Jhonny Gonzalez (54-8-0, 46 KO) at the StubHub Center in Carson, Calif.
The latter is a tough veteran who will give Mares yet another stiff challenge. Here’s how you can watch:
Tale of the Tape
| Record: | Abner Mares 26-0-1, 14 KO | Jhonny Gonzalez 54-8, 46 KO |
| Height: | 5'4 1/2" | 5'7" |
| Reach: | 66" | 69.5" |
| Stance: | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Hometown: | Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico | Pachuca, Hidalgo, Mexico |
| Rounds: | 202 | 302 |
Information via BoxRec.
The Book on Mares
The Warrior
After taking down tough WBC featherweight champion Daniel Ponce De Leon, Mares is facing another power puncher in Gonzalez. Prior to the Ponce De Leon fight, Mares handed super bantamweight champion Anselmo Moreno the only defeat of his career.
Mares deserves credit for fighting top competition every time he gets in the ring.
He’s climbing most pound-for-pound lists, despite lacking all of the big-time physical gifts.
In the Ring
Mares is a battler with deceptive power. He has only 14 KOs in his career, but as Ponce De Leon found out, Mares can punch a little harder than his KO total would indicate.
The 27-year-old has also displayed a solid chin in his career. He’s rugged and sometimes described as dirty.
It all fits together to make Mares one of the toughest outs in the sport today. Against Gonzalez, Mares must go to the body early and often. As usual, he’ll likely have the edge in conditioning over his opponent. That’s just one of the many underrated characteristics the champion brings into the ring.
If he pounds Gonzalez’s body early, he’ll wear him down and have a chance to stop him late, just as he did against Ponce De Leon.
The Book on Gonzalez
Gonzalez had his own meeting with Ponce De Leon in September 2012. The latter dethroned Gonzalez to capture the title Mares took from him in May 2013.
Gonzalez has a chance to win his title back, but Mares is an even stiffer challenge. Despite being just 31 years old, Gonzalez has been fighting professionally for 14 years. He’s been a workhorse in his career and especially active the last two years.
In 2011, he fought four times. The clash with Mares will be his third fight of 2013. Most will likely favor Mares in this fight, but Gonzalez has a chance to pull the upset.
In the Ring
Gonzalez’s power is substantial. His 46 KOs in 62 fights gives him a 74.19 percent KO percentage in his career. For a fighter in a smaller weight class, that is pretty high.
He too has the ability to bang the body. This is a strategy that few Mares’ opponents attempt to incorporate. The worst idea Gonzalez can have is to make himself a headhunter early. Without mixing up his punches, Mares will time him and counter with power and regularity.
Gonzalez will have a significant reach advantage, so the jab could be a major weapon. He used it effectively early against Israel Vazquez in 2006, but he ultimately tired late and his defense began to lapse.
Vazquez stopped him in the 10th round. This fight is worth referencing because Vazquez is the exact same height and employs the counterpunching, come-forward style Mares uses.
Obviously, Mares is a better fighter, but as boxing fans know—styles make fights.
Prediction
Gonzalez will have his moments early, but Mares’ toughness, will and counterpunching will ultimately be the difference. The champion will stop Gonzalez in the eighth round to retain his title.
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