Abner Mares vs. Eric Morel: Preview, Start Time, Live Streaming and Schedule

In what is being billed as the battle on the border in El Paso, Texas, Abner Mares and Eric Morel will do battle in a junior featherweight bout for the vacant WBC title. Mares is making the move up from bantamweight, so Morel will be more comfortable, but Mares is putting his undefeated mark on the line.

The 26-year-old Mares is one of the most exciting boxers currently in the sport, while Morel, a 37-year-old veteran, prefers to bog his opposition down and fight at a slower pace. Such a clash of styles is sure to produce an interesting chess match and an unpredictable result, so this fight promises to be an intriguing one.

Here is everything you need to know for Saturday's junior featherweight bout between Mares and Morel. 

Where: Don Haskins Center in El Paso, Texas

When: Saturday, April 21 at 9:30 p.m. ET (Main Card start time)

Watch: Showtime

Live Stream: Showtime Sports 

Undercard (Beginning at 7 p.m. ET)

Librado Andrade vs. Rowland Bryant ( Showtime Extreme)

Francisco Vargas vs. Rafael Lora ( Showtime Extreme)

Chris Pearson vs. Jose Martell ( Showtime Extreme)

Anselmo Moreno vs. David De La Mora ( Showtime)

Keys to Mares Victory

For Mares, this fight will be all about exerting his speed and pushing the pace. Mares is 11 years Morel's junior, so he figures to have a major advantage when it comes to quickness. Mares knows full well that Morel's main goal is to keep things close to the vest, so his best chance in this fight is to move around a lot, string together some combinations and get Morel into an uncomfortable situation.

Mares is the more talented fighter at this juncture in his career, and quite honestly, Morel never possessed the type of ability that Mares has currently. Moving up in weight could adversely affect his speed a bit, but the added muscle may also help him pack a bit more punch, so there shouldn't be much concern regarding Mares' change in weight. 

Keys to Morel Victory

Morel and his camp have to understand that Mares is the heavy favorite, as he is ranked as the No. 1 fighter in the weight class despite never having fought at this weight yet. Morel is ranked fifth, although that is a point of contention among many boxing fans, as he was moved up from No. 12 without much explanation. Morel has been in a lot of fights and has had plenty of success with a record of 42-2, so experience is his best asset.

Experience can make up for a lot of what he surrenders to Mares physically because he has seen pretty much all there is to see in a boxing ring. Morel certainly won't get flustered by anything Mares does, so that shouldn't be a worry. Morel simply has to fight the only way he knows how, and he has to neutralize Mares' speed by staying at close quarters and doing plenty of clutching and grabbing. It won't be the best for the viewers, but it is undoubtedly his best chance.

Prediction

Mares likely won't dispatch of Morel as easily as many think, as this fight should go the distance, but Mares will ultimately prove to be too much to handle. Morel may be able to slow him down and frustrate him in small spurts, but Mares is simply too explosive and will impose his will en route to a unanimous-decision victory.