Abner Mares Beats Joseph Agbeko

ANAHEIM, Calif. (Dec. 3, 2011) – In the first defense of his International Boxing Federation bantamweight world title, Abner Mares (23-0-1, 13 KOs) left little doubt this time that he is still the IBF king at 118 pounds with an electrifying unanimous decision over Joseph King Kong Agbeko (28-4, 22 KOs) in the main event Saturday night on SHOWTIME®.

Photo: Casino/Showtime

Mares, of Hawaiian Gardens, Calif., by way of Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico, also took home the World Boxing Council Silver bantamweight belt with scores of 118-110 on all three judges’ scorecards in the 12-round rematch of their controversial August fight which Mares won by majority decision in Las Vegas.

In an equally thrilling co-feature, Anselmo “Chemito” Moreno (31-1-1, 11 KOs) of Panama City, Panama, was victorious in his United States and SHOWTIME debut defending his World Boxing Association Bantamweight Super title with a 12-round unanimous decision against former two-time world champion Vic “The Raging Bull” Darchinyan (37-4-1, 27 KOs) of Sydney, Australia, by scores of 116-111, 117-110, 120-107.

Cut above the eye by an Agbeko jab in the second round, Mares relied on the handy work of cutman Miguel Diaz. “I asked Miguel, ‘Are we going to stop the fight?’ And he was like ‘What? I’m the best. No way we’re stopping this fight,’ “said Mares, who landed 183 power punches to 107 for Agbeko. “(The blood) bothered me a few times because he was only going for my eye, but I knew I could get through it.”

SHOWTIME announcer Al Bernstein scored the fight 116-112 for Mares while Antonio Tarver had it 115-113 in favor of the champ.

“Tonight they saw the real Abner Mares,” Mares said. “I’ve beat him once and now I’ve beaten him again.”

Asked what was next by SHOWTIME’S Jim Gray, the 26-year-old Mares responded, “Maybe Nonito Doniaire. Whoever they want to put in front of me. I might even move up to 122. Tonight the world saw my true boxing skills. I knew I was winning the whole fight.”

The 31-year-old Agbeko, who hails from the Bronx, N.Y., and is originally from Accra, Ghana, said he was asked in pre-fight press conferences if he had to knock Mares out to win in Mares’ home state. “I always told them no,” Agbeko said. “If I win I deserve to win. Right now, I don’t have anything to protest. I don’t feel like a loser. I think this decision is unfair. You shouldn’t have to knock out your opponent to win in California.”

The victim of several low blows that weren’t called in the first fight, Agbeko added, “I thought I fought better tonight than the last fight.”

The esteemed referee Dr. Lou Moret, a 28-year veteran, warned Mares just once of a low blow in the sixth round.

In the biggest fight of his career, the 26-year-old Moreno dominated Darchinyan connecting on 216 total punches to 101 in the 12-round win.

“If (the public) didn’t know about him before tonight, they do now,” Bernstein said of Moreno.

“I’m extremely happy tonight,” Moreno said. “I will show more in the future. I was a little nervous because it’s my first fight in the States. He couldn’t catch me tonight.”

Said Darchinyan: “I just couldn’t figure him out. I was missing the whole time. I couldn’t find him and that was the fight. I knew he was just going to go for points. I knew this but still I lost the fight.”


The night of fights promoted by Golden Boy Promotions, Don King Productions and Gary Shaw Productions will re-air this week as follows:


DAY CHANNEL

Tuesday, Dec. 6, 10 p.m. ET/PT SHO EXTREME

Saturday’s fight will be available ON DEMAND beginning on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

Steve Albert (blow-by-blow), Bernstein and Tarver (analysts) called the action with Gray reporting from ringside. The executive producer was David Dinkins Jr. with Chuck McKean producing and Bob Dunphy directing.

Source: www.eastsideboxing.com/news.php

Abner Mares tames ‘King Kong’ Agbeko to retain IBF bantamweight title

WBA bantamweight champion Abner Mares (23-0-1, 13KO’s) will feel a sense of redemption after defeating Joseph ‘King Kong’ Agbeko (28-4, 22KO’s) convincingly over twelve rounds last night in their rematch at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California in the final of Showtime’s bantamweight tournament. Mares controlled the action throughout with a good jab and fast combinations that Agbeko had no answer to. Unlike the first fight there was no controversy over low blows or knockdowns this time, and Mares was a clear winner on all three cards.

“I’m just happy people can see my true boxing. Without controversy. They saw the real Abner. They did last time too but there was a lot of bad stuff that happened. Now, this is the real Abner and I proved it. I beat him once, now I beat him again, and I’m just happy.”

Fighting for almost the entire fight with a nasty gash over his right eye caused by an Agbeko jab in the second round, Mares showed an improvement from the first fight. Boxing sensibly, he kept Agbeko from setting himself with good movement and a fast jab, occasionally letting the odd combination go before stepping out of range again. Agbeko just wasn’t cultured or mobile enough to deal with it quite.

Agbeko’s best moments were early on in the fight though, and for the first few rounds looked like he was going to be there with Mares all the way, throwing caution to the wind and letting his hands go, but Mares always had an element of control and never really got troubled by Agbeko’s assaults. Mares was doing what he should have done in the first fight.

The rounds started to take a familiar pattern. Mares would get on his toes and use his jab whilst taking part in brief exchanges that he almost always had the better of. It was an intelligent strategy and very effective against Agbeko, who needs his opponents to stand in front of him if he is to be at his best. Mares was able to keep him off-balance the whole time and as a result made it a lot easier for himself this time around.

Mares (right) even got the better of the exchanges when inside

The thing that bothered Mares most throughout the fight was the cut. With a constant stream of blood pouring down his face, Mares did well to maintain his composure and stay focused, but like a true warrior he didn’t even seem to notice. Although he did seem to tire slightly towards the end, Agbeko didn’t push the fight hard enough and as a result let Mares off the hook. Apart from a few grandstand flurries to end the last couple of rounds there was an inevitably about the fight by now and as the final bell rang both men knew who had won the fight. It was confirmed moments later, with all three judges scoring the fight 118-110 to Mares.

“I told you guys after the first fight, I thought I was boxing him easy, but the low blows happened,” said Mares afterwards. “I felt really comfortable the whole fight this time. I felt like I was closing the rounds like I should have.”

There’s now talk that Mares will move up to 122lbs to face super-bantamweight champion Nonito Donaire in what should be a great fight for fans. Mares confirmed he is ready to take on all comers.

Source:  fightfranchise.com/2011/12/04/abner-mares-tames-king-kong-agbeko-to-retain-ibf-bantamweight-title/