Abner Mares: Mares-Agbeko Winner 'Should Definitely Fight Donaire'

On Saturday night, Abner Mares (21-0-1 13 KO's) will face Joseph Agbeko (28-2 22 KO's) in the Bantamweight tournament final. This tournament is one of two boxing tournaments currently underway. The other is the Super Middleweight tournament which has another year until its conclusion. 

Oscar De La Hoya, who manages Mares, had nothing but good things to say about the current tournament trend in boxing in an interview with Knock Out Digest.

"What Showtime has done with the Bantamweight division, with the Super Middleweight division is outstanding. We really have to give them a lot of credit for creating interest once again in the Super Middleweight division and the Bantamweight division that you have great fighters participating with Abner and Agbeko and even Vic Darchinyan and Johnny Perez."

The Bantamweight division is one of the deepest divisions in boxing. Nonito Donaire, who is regarded as the best in the division, wasn't even included in the tournament and will most likely face the tournament winner and Abner Mares wants to make sure that will happen.

"Agbeko or myself should definitely fight Donaire because he has two of the most recognized titles and he is considered pound-for-pound one of the best. I think it will be a little bit of frustration from both of us not to fight such a great fighter, to get that opportunity. But again you know the audience and people know it’s not our fault. If it was up to us well we’ll fight him, either of us. Because that’s what type of fighters we are."

These tournaments create great matchups that fans want to see. Even when a tournament concludes the tournament participants can continue to fight top tier fighters who were excluded from the tournament.

Too many times promoters get in the way of good fights just to protect their investment. If the fight does not happen then Mares is prepared for whatever situation is thrown his way.

"I don’t see any other fight that he (Donaire) could fight at Bantamweight so if he decides to move up to Super Bantamweight he’ll leave the titles vacant for any of us to take you know so there’s no wrong decision here…it’s his promotion, it’s his career and hopefully either of us get’s that chance."

It will be an exciting night of boxing at the Nokia Theatre in downtown Los Angeles which also features Bantamweights Vic Darchinyan (35-3-1 27 KO's) vs. Yonnhy Perez (20-1-1 14 KO's) for the vacant IBO Bantamweight title.